Stormy Nights
Today my devotion was on a familiar scripture that we know, if it was a sequel I’d call it : A stormy night with Jesus told by Mark and Matthew.
35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
A storm could refer to any undesirable thing we face in our lives such as temptations, persecution, marital problems, disease, unemployment, infertility, poverty, and any other thing that you see as a problem in your life. I highlight ten key takeaways from my study.
- Storms appear on familiar territories: Jesus and his disciples were cruising on the sea in the evening!!! They were fishermen and they knew their way around and there were other boats even joining theirs. This is similar to taking a ride in town, you won’t drive on an unfamiliar street at night when there is not much light.
- Jesus rebuked the wind and spoke to the waves: Waves are created by energy passing through water, causing it to move in a circular motion. they could be wind-driven waves, or surface waves. This means the waves were created by the friction between wind and surface water. The waves were caused by something so I find it interesting that Jesus rebuked the source of the storm(wind)and commanded the effects of the source (wind friction =waves)to be still. I’m curious if there was a reason for this?
- When you speak in the name of Jesus, it commands a supreme power : We have the ability to speak in the name of Jesus, use it to your advantage. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Speak life into your stormy situations and trust that it acts on the power of the Son of God the one and only true God. At the mention of His name. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
- Storms are unexpected but weather the storms with Jesus: They didn’t expect a storm but I suspect Jesus did (i mean where did the pillow or cushion come from)if they expected a storm I don’t think they would have gone to sea. Accept Jesus, believe in Him and He will be with you.
- Replace fear with faith: Anything you are afraid of, search for accounts in the Bible that speak to it and speak the word over that fear. We have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, and of love a sound mind. Build your faith, faith comes by hearing of the Word of God. Be faith full not fearful.
- When your experience, wealth, and resources cannot fight the storms you go through, you can count on your supernatural power, Jesus. If only you will humble yourself and seek earnestly for God’s intervention no matter how long, He will answer and your request will not be delayed. Even if it is delay is not denial.
- You may be waiting on God but He is waiting on You: Jesus was asleep, first of i’m wondering where the pillow came from and how He didn’t feel that the pillow was getting wet when the storm started. In as much as God is all knowing, He still requires us to speak to Him in prayer and ask Him to quiet storms in our lives. If you won’t ask Him to intervene He will still be sleeping.
- Grow your faith, grow your knowledge in the Word of God: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the substance of things unseen. As believers, we walk by faith and not be sight. The things we see are temporary but the unseen things we feel, hear and imagine are eternal. Don’t lose hope and Invest in your faith, it’s an eternal investment with life long returns.
- Have confidence God will see you through: The disciples had tried to save the boat by their strength and it got to a point they realised they couldn’t. They called on Jesus as their last hope after trying so hard and He came through. You need to have boldness when you approach the holiest of holies.
- Jesus didn’t take away the storm, He calmed it: One might argue that a calmed storm is no longer a storm but my takeaway is that if a storm like this should come again they will be able to overcome it . He calmed it so they will learn, He calmed it so their faith will be built, if He can do it so can they. He calmed it because He is God!
May we be inspired to not allow our circumstances to weaken our faith, may we be bold and strong to go through the storms of life with Jesus. Let me know your thoughts on this, I’d love to hear from you.
With love,
Lady-Omega Hammond
#faith #stormsoflife #lifenuggets
