"Storms Have Purpose"

"And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?"  Mark 4:38

Storms in life are a given.  They are unavoidable.  We have to go through them sometimes.  Remember, Jesus sent His disciples out to sea knowing a storm was coming. 

Storms do three things: 
1)  They test our reactions.  They test what we are made of.  They expose what is inside of us.  The disciples reacted in fear, doubt and unbelief.  The storm exposed the fear that was hidden in their hearts.  It exposed their lack of faith in Jesus and His word.  They had heard Him preach and teach.  They had seen Him heal the sick and cast out devils.  He had already told them that would do the same in His name.  But then the storm came and they were tested.  Their hearts were tested, not just their intellect. 

2)  Storms also reveal our trust in the Lord.  The disciples got in the storm and didn't trust His word-- His word that they were going to the other side; not that they were going to drown in the sea.  They didn't trust His presence that was with them to keep them safe.  They didn't trust His love for them.  Instead, they believed He didn't care.  They trusted Him enough to get in the boat but not enough to keep them safe in the boat.  Sound familiar?  We trust Him until it gets rough.      

3)  Storms give us a revelation of who Jesus really is.  "And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:41)  Again, they had seen the miracles He had performed.  They had seen the devils bow down and submit to His authority.  They had heard Him teach with an anointing and authority that the other teachers of the day did not have.  But when they saw His power demonstrated in the storm they marveled and became afraid because they realized this was no ordinary man. 

Are you in a storm?  You may have to "ride it out".  It may not go away quickly.  But let the storm cause you to take inventory and see what is in you.  Let it take you into a whole new level of trust in the Lord.  Let it give you a fresh revelation of Who Jesus is, and through that revelation give you peace to weather the storm and go through it to the other side.  It is possible when you realize exactly Who is in the storm with you.

Have a great day.  Storms serve a purpose in our lives.  Therefore, sometimes we just have to go through them.   
 

"Follow The Instructions"

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye".  Psalm 32:8

I don't care how old you are, how well educated you are or how much you think you know, we all need instructions from time to time.  Practically everything we purchase or have to assemble come with instructions.  When we try to get information concerning a service we have, get through to our doctor, check on our banking, we have to follow the instructions given to us by the automated menu.  Those instructions are meant to help us. 

This world is full of instructions to help us navigate through it.  By the same token in order for us to be successful in our spiritual life God has given us instructions as well.  If we heed and follow those instructions, we will do well.  We will be victorious, we will walk in abundant life, we will run the race with the strength and endurance that we need.  But on the other hand, if we neglect to heed and follow the Lord's instructions we will struggle, we will fall short, we will not be successful, we will miss out.  It won't be God's fault.  We can't blame Him.  He has given us the instructions that we need to make it through whatever situation we are facing.  If we don't follow them, it will be our fault when things go poorly.   

I know people who try to assemble something without ever reading the instructions-- perhaps you are one of them.  When they think they can do it without the instructions, they mess up.  They have left over parts.  The thing is lopsided.  It isn't sturdy.  It has to be redone.  The same principle applies in dealing with the spiritual life.  If you are wondering why things aren't working out.  If you are wondering why you aren't victorious.  If you are wondering why things are always going wrong and never seems to get any better.  Perhaps it is because you are trying to do it without reading the instructions and following what the Creator says to do.

Have a great day.  You can't make it through life or have a successful spiritual life without reading, heeding and following the Lord's instructions.  
 

"Keep Your Bags Packed"

"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh".

We are looking for the Lord's return.  By the signs of the time, it won't be long.  But also, because He hasn't return yet many are getting careless and have stopped planning for and watching for His return.  They are busy with the cares of this life.  They are consumed with the pleasures of this world.  They are taking care of the flesh and natural man and are neglecting the spiritual one.  They have stopped looking for Him to come because they have heard so much that says it will be soon but don't see the evidence of it.  They protest that they have heard it for so long, but it has not happened so why believe and watch for it.  According to the Bible, this is another sign that His return is soon to come. (2 Peter 3:4)

The key to this verse is "be ready".  It doesn't say to get ready then forget about it.  It doesn't say to only think about getting ready.  Since we don't know when His return will be, we are to get ready and stay ready.  In times past when a woman was pregnant you never heard much about their labor being induced.  We all just went to have the baby when the pains hit us, and the baby was ready to come on its own.  Therefore, the closer it got to our due date we would make preparation and have our "hospital/baby" bag packed and ready to go.  Once we packed it, we didn't unpack it.  It stayed packed and ready to go with us at all times because we had no idea when it might be time to go to the hospital.  That time could come during the day or the middle of the night.  It didn't matter, that bag stayed packed and in an easily accessible place. 

In this same way, we have to make sure our "bags" are packed and we are ready to go regardless of when the time of Christ's return takes place.  If we are ready, we have nothing to worry about.  If we are watching, if we are looking, if we are living in expectation of His return, we have nothing to worry about, we will be prepared for that time regardless of when it comes. 

Are you "packed and ready" to go when He returns?  Were you "packed" but have unpacked a few things?  Have you stopped watching and waiting for His return?  Have you neglected the fact that He will return again--- it could be today?  Are you ready?  And are you staying ready?  If not, get ready and don't let anything hinder you from staying ready.... for in the time when you think not, He will return.  Let Him find you ready.

Have a great day.  Are your "bags packed" and ready to go should the Lord return today?
 

"Able To See Spiritually"

"And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.  And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha".  2 Kings 6:16,17

There are several things about this story that I notice.  One is that it is a comfort.  How comforting to know that even when we don't see it with the natural eyes God is right there with us and has His heavenly host encamped around us.  The other thing is something that amazes me. It amazes me that this Old Testament prophet who is still under the Law, who is under the old covenant, who has the Spirit only upon him was able to see so clearly into the spiritual realm.  He did not have the kingdom residing in him.  He did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling him at all times.  Yet he saw so clearly.

The thing that amazes me most is that we now have the Holy Spirit abiding in us.  We have the kingdom of God within us.  We are heirs of the new covenant, a better covenant.  We are not under the Law but under Grace.  So, why can't we see into the spiritual realm?  Why is it we aren't more discerning?  Why are we blind to spiritual things?  Why are we more like the servant who didn't see, than the prophet who did?

I believe it comes down to how much we "walk" in the spirit.  How much attention do you give to spiritual things?  How worldly and materially minded are you?  How God focused are you?  Are you seeking the Kingdom of God?  Do you desire to see past this natural realm and into the things of God?  This servant walked after the "natural" life.  He lived only in what he saw with the natural eye.  The prophet lived the "spiritual" life.  He lived in what God saw-- from God's perspective. 

Which of these two defines you?  Are you content with walking after the natural course of things?  Are you desirous to see great and mighty things?  Are you wanting what is on the surface or to go deeper?  Do you want to continually walk by sight?  Or do you want to live by faith?  The choice is yours.  The ability and possibility have been given to you by the Lord.  It is all a matter of how much you desire it and are willing to press in to receive it.  The scripture says that if we are willing and obedient we will eat the good of the land. (Isaiah 1:19)  If you are willing and obedient to do what you need to do-- seek, press, pray, draw near, study, move, get out of your comfort zone, trust the Lord, lay aside what hinders you-- then you too will "eat the good of the spiritual land" by having a deeper spiritual understanding of spiritual things. 

Have a great day.  Are you desirous to see spiritual things?  Or are you content to see only with the natural eyes?   

 

"Be Prosperous"

"And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper".  2 Chronicles 26:5

When we think of the word prosperous, we think primarily in monetary terms.  There are so many more ways of being prosperous than just financially or economically.  John wrote, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 1:2) This prosperity had to do with being successful in your journey and along the way. 

There is a sure way to have prosperity in our lives.  It is found in the verse above.  "As long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper".  Prosperity comes, not as we go and do things on our own, or lean to our own understanding, or set our own course or own course of action.  It comes as we seek the Lord continually asking for His guidance, direction and wisdom.  Then it comes as we obey and follow His direction and instructions.  

Have a great day.  May you have a prosperous life. But true prosperity comes as you seek the Lord in all your ways and allow Him to guide you.