A Voice in the Storm

“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.”

Isaiah 25:4

The night before last, we had a powerful storm rip through my town bringing with it an intense thunder and lightening show. It was beautiful. I laid in bed thoroughly enjoying the view out my window when about midnight, my cat jumped onto my bed scaring me half to death. As soon as she made it onto my bed she scrambled to burrow herself, facedown into the crook of my arm, cowering at each bolt of lightening and crash of thunder. I pet her and gently told her it was going to be ok. What she couldn’t know was that we were perfectly safe inside my apartment and it was interesting as I watched a pattern develop. When I stopped petting her and talking to her, she began to shiver again and I could see panic in her eyes. But as long as I was stroking her and soothing her with my voice, although the storm had not passed she was calm and able to rest.

I smiled thinking about how similar I am to my cat. A storm rolls into my life and I cower with anxiety and worry about what’s going to happen. My circumstances threaten me like intense bolts of lightening and the crashing thunder of doubt and fear can be deafening. Where do I turn? All I know is that when I am in the midst of a storm, if I can just be near Jesus, He puts me at rest. My situation may not change and the thunder and lightening may continue to make threats to overwhelm me, but the soothing voice of my God through His Word and His gentle touch put my heart at ease. With Him I am safe. He is in control. He sees the scope of my storm and is sovereign over it. His nearness is all I need.

What threatens to overwhelm you right now? James 4:8 says, “Draw near God and He will draw near to you.” Psalm 119:114 says, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Burrow yourself into the loving arms of your Heavenly Father, listen to His voice as you plant yourself in His Word and He will bring rest to your soul.

A Very Present Help in Trouble

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1

If you get time today, read all of Psalm 46. It’s amazing for renewing your perspective on God’s power and personal presence in our lives. I have had a few conversations this week with friends who are in crisis or who are facing huge decisions. This verse cuts right to the core of worry, fear and anxiety. We see here that God is our:
• refuge - this word in its context means safety from storms, danger, and falsehoods/lies. He is also our…
• strength - this word in its context means strength materially, physically, personally, socially, and politically. I think that covers just about everything!

If you just lost your job – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you are struggling in your marriage – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you are facing chronic illness – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you are hurting financially – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you long to be serving the Lord but feel “stuck” in your present circumstances – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you are transitioning into new motherhood – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you need wisdom about relocating and starting over (in a foreign country!) – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you are struggling with your singleness – God is your very present refuge and strength.
If you are ___fill in your scenario______ - God is your very present refuge and strength.

There is NO circumstance or crisis or challenge in which God is not our refuge, strength and very present help in trouble. Does that truth set your mind and heart at ease? It’s a promise for us to claim! So, what is the burden on your heart? Take that situation to God, commit it to Him and thank Him for being your refuge, strength and help.

Strength in Weakness

“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick.” Ezekiel 34:16

Do you feel like you fit into one of these categories today – lost, driven out, broken or sick? God majors in finding what’s lost, bringing back what’s been cast out, restoring what’s been broken and healing what’s sick. Now doesn’t that just make you take a deep breath? No matter what state we’re in today, we are never too far out that His loving arms cannot rescue us or His skillful hands mend or bring healing. Are you seeking purpose down in your soul? Do you for some reason this day feel driven out by family or friends? What circumstance or news has come into your life that has broken your heart? What area of your life – physically, emotionally or spiritually – is sick?

God promises to be our strength in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) and a bruised reed He will not break (Isaiah 42:3). He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103:14). Whatever situation you find yourself in at present, He sees you and is willing to act on your behalf (2 Chronicles 16:9). Would you invite Him right now into your sickness, brokenness, isolation or confusion?

It's a Way of Life

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16

We are living in difficult days. Not only do we have an enemy that is trying his hardest to trip us up in our Christian walk, but Christians are beginning to compromise their lifestyles and beliefs to feel more comfortable in this temporary world we live in. I see it all around me and worse yet, I find it creeping into my own life. Sometime, I think the older we get the harder it is to deny the seductive lull of what the world promises will satisfy - power, money, success, influence, gratifying our flesh through whatever means we are prone to temptation, etc. In this verse, Paul is giving Timothy some instructions about what to guard in his own life and what to be on guard against. He warns Timothy that in his day (and ours!) people would fall away from the faith and be deceived by all kinds of false teaching. He tells Timothy to devote himself to God's Word, prayer and teaching. Here's a reality check - following God is going to make our lives look different. That's the point!! He compares us as the body of Christ to a city on a hill whose light cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14-15).

So, if we take to heart Paul's advice to Timothy, we should watch our lives. Let's ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and help us answer the following questions:
- Does my lifestyle clearly reflect that I am a follower of Christ?
- What activities, habits and pleasures am I pursuing that dull my light or cause me to look and act just like the world? If you're not sure, ask yourself if Jesus has set a standard for these behaviors in Scripture or modeled for us what to do or how to act in a given situation.

We should also heed Paul’s warning to Timothy to closely watch our doctrine.
- Whose teaching am I regularly sitting under? Where am I learning about God? (Have you read your church's doctrinal statement to see what they believe and what's influencing their teaching of God's Word to you)?
- Am I comparing what I hear others tell me about God with what I find in God's Word? God's Word is always THE authority and unfortunately, in these days we have to be on guard against teachers that tell us what we want to hear or what will benefit them!

Ultimately, if we persevere in guarding godly lifestyles and beliefs, the result will be blessing not only for us, but those “hear” us, or those we influence – family, friends, co-workers, strangers. Our lives and doctrine are a testimony to God and being around us should encourage others to embrace God and His plan for their lives.

The Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11

What are some characteristics of a good shepherd? A good shepherd…
• Protects his sheep
• Knows his sheep by name
• Provides for his sheep
• Rescues his lost sheep
• Leads his sheep
• Is willing to fight for his sheep
• And as we learn from this verse, a good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. As our Good Shepherd, He is all of these characteristics and more – and not just in theory! He has already fulfilled the greatest vow of being a Shepherd when He willingly and lovingly laid down His life to rescue us from death and eternal separation from Him. And He continues each day to protect us – that’s a powerful Shepherd. He knows you and me by name – that’s an intimate Shepherd. He provides for our daily needs – that’s a resourceful Shepherd. He leads and guides us – that’s a wise Shepherd. He is willing to fight for us – that’s a loving Shepherd.

When have you recently stopped to thank Him for being your Good Shepherd? How have you seen Him take care of you in each of these areas? Praise God that He understands we’re weak and fragile sheep, helpless without Him. Thank Him that He loved us enough to lay down His life for us and that He continues to fight for us and provide for us daily. Now that’s a Good Shepherd!

Nearness to God

“Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.” Psalm 32:9

The purpose of a bridle for a horse or a mule is to restrain or guide the animal. To use the horse analogy, our life before Christ is in a sense, like a wild horse. Our lives are untamed as we live in the flesh and there is no restraint from the Holy Spirit. Then, when we come to Christ, it is as if His love and instruction through His Word bridles us so that we are protected while we learn what being a Christ follower is all about. Then, once tamed or “mature” in our walk, we should remain near to God by choice and out of a heart full of love – not because He necessarily has to bridle us through our circumstances to get us to come to Him.

Ask yourself these questions with me today:
1.) Am I freely and regularly coming to God because I want to and out of love for Him?
2.) What areas of my life am I stubbornly withholding from bringing to God?
3.) When was the last time He had to use my circumstances to bridle me and how did I choose to learn from that?

What to do when you don't know what to do

"Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding." Proverbs 8:14

Are you seeking an answer to a question? Are you in need of wisdom and discernment? Are you wondering if the opinions you're receiving are sound? God clearly says that counsel, wisdom and understanding come from Him. His Word is relevant to any situation life can throw at you. Doesn't it stand to reason that if God is the only one who knows your future, it is Him from whom you should seek answers to your life's questions. God is never out of touch with our lives. It is us who are out of touch with God and what He longs to share with us through His Word. When was the last time you picked up your Bible just to soak in the truth and wisdom that it contains? When was the last time you came to God with a problem or a question instead of a trusted loved one or friend - even if they truly have your best interest at heart? When was the last time you relished hearing God's voice speak clearly and plainly to you about a situation you needed guidance on, and how did that propel your faith and relationship with God forward? It is truly amazing how the enemy attempts to keep us from God's Word all day long - through busyness, distraction, service, etc. He knows how powerful God's Word is in allowing us to hear His voice, follow in obedience and produce fruit for the kingdom. Jeremiah 10:23 says, "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." So how do we know where to go and what to do? Proverbs 3:5-6 answers that when it says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." So, here's what you do when you need to know what to do...look to God's W - O - R - D.

W- Wholeheartedly declare your trust in the Lord (claim promises from His Word about His trustworthy character - Ps. 18:18; Jer. 3:23; Ps. 18:2; Ps. 34:7, 17; Deut. 33:27; Heb. 13:6; Ps. 18:31-32; I Cor. 15:10)
O - Our understanding is faulty, look to God for understanding in His Word
R - Remember Him FIRST in anything you're dealing with.
D - He will direct your steps through His Word.