We Interrupt This Blog Post to Bring You the Following Emergency Announcement
Beeeeep…beeeeep…beeeeep…
My cell phone sounded the emergency signal: “HURRICANE MATTHEW APPROACHING; SEEK SHELTER NOW!”
Hurricanes are a lot of work, expense and inconvenience, and though they can be devastating, at least we have several days warning for preparations. So I spent a few days preparing for whatever fate Matthew may inflict (instead of writing my blog).
The news stations strongly advised people to heed evacuation warnings and prepare for a very dangerous storm. Experience proves, some people will not listen. It was stated, “There will be casualties, mainly because people will not listen to authorities.” Examples were given of people who ignored or procrastinated and met devastating consequences.
How about you? Have you ever not heeded a storm warning? Not just a storm kind of storm, but you know, life’s storms?
Hmm. Sounds like abiding to me. In John 15:4, Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
Jesus warned us to abide in Him. Kind of like we had to abide in the safety of our homes or shelters this week. If we abide in Him when life’s storms rage, we’ll be able to trust in Him and have His peace and guidance to see us through.
If you’re currently going through a storm, let His Word pour over you and strengthen you for whatever lies ahead. Stay close. Pray. He is faithful. But we must remain in Him to experience His peace and faithfulness.
But we not only abide in Him during a storm, but beforethe storm. Every day without a storm is preparation time.
Jesus also said, “Abide in my word” (John 8:31) and “If my words abide in you…” (John 15:7). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). His Word gives us faith, which gives us trust, which gives us peace.
Peace can also come from knowing God works everything for our good (Romans 8:28) for those called according to His purpose (abiding in Him). Jesus concluded in John 16:33 by saying, “Take heart, I have overcome the world.”
There is purpose in everything – even hurricanes (see here for an interesting read:
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/08/five-good-things-about-hurricane )
His Word gives us peace because it gives us hope.
Are you abiding in Him, so closely joined that nothing can shake you loose? We must prepare ahead of time – read His Word and pray – if we are to experience the peace that comes from abiding.
We’ve been warned. There will be storms in this fallen world. How will we face them?
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:1 ESV
Going through a storm? Let the words to this song comfort you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gF8_8ypzVA
I am writing a six-week Bible study called Pursuing God in P.R.A.Y.E.R. – Six Steps to Prevailing Prayer. I would love to share the first week with you free and keep you posted of publication. Just send me an email at lifecoachpenny@yahoo.com and mention the code FREE1st.