May 5, 2008

Storms Will Come!

I was reading a devotional the other day it was called “Fear or Faith.” The focus was on Luke 8:25, 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” My focus was drawn to Luke 8:22-25: 22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
The disciples did just what Jesus told them to do as many of us have, but the storm still came. The disciples were surprised just like we often are but Jesus was not.
From that scripture, I took away the thought-storms will come, even and especially when we are attempting to do the things that God wants us to do. I went so far as to accept the fact that storms are necessary to move us forward in our relationship with God and to our purpose. Through a storm like the disciples we have to learn where to put our trust and who to put our trust in. We might question their faith, but one thing I did not see in the scripture was, them trying to get help from each other or any other source. They cried out to Jesus.
Storms are an inevitable part of life. The question is how will we respond? Do we recognize that the storms are for our good to grow our faith or do we just panic and give up?
Where is your storm? Is it spiritual, relational, emotional or physical? We all have at least one storm right now. When we make a decision to follow Christ we need to understand with that decision comes a storm. The disciples began to move in obedience to Jesus’ request. When they got in the boat they joined Him. They were doing His will when the storm came up, so why a storm?
Storms are sent/allowed in our lives to grow our faith and to strengthen us. Storms help us to assess our current condition and situation. Do we really believe and trust what God has told us and the direction that He is sending us? Do we have enough faith to continue to press through to the other side of our situation and to stand on His promise when all visible signs and manifestations point to the contrary?
The storm in your marriage was necessary, so you would know where you really are and put God in the center.
The craziness with your children-a storm was necessary to make you lean on God and become a better and stronger parent.
The financial storm was necessary to show you what was really important and teach you how to be a better steward of God’s money.
The storm at your job was necessary to get you to let it go of it so you could move into the open door God had for you at the new job.
The storm in your friendship, that left you standing alone was necessary to allow you to regroup and refocus on your relationship with God.
The health challenges that almost took you out were necessary to get you to see your body is not your own, you have been bought with a price. Your body is God’s temple.
Some of the storms are a direct result of your disobedience to God. God told us to do some things specifically, but that is not what we wanted to do. We wanted our own desires and our desires did not match up with His will for us, but we chose to go our own way. We chose disobedience, then the storm came that shook up everything. Even that storm was necessary to get our attention. If we heed the Lord even at that moment, He will open His arms to us and we can grow from the experience. Even that storm had to be allowed by God. The storm is necessary to move us to a place of making the desires of God’s heart the desires of our hearts. The word is true when it says you reap what you sow, even in storms. That storm is necessary to draw you back to God.
I don’t know what your storm is, but I do know they are necessary to test, equip, rebuke, draw, grow and correct us so that our faith grows and so does our relationship with God. Take some time to look at your storm through new eyes. What is God trying to do with you through it?

Weekly Scripture:
Luke 8:22-25:
 22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. 23 As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.
 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
 The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”
We just worked out spiritually. If you have not worked out your physical temple get up and join us in the:

New Beginnings 2008 Workout Focus
10,000/steps per day or 70,000/steps per week Walking Program*

This is the fitness opportunity that New Beginnings is promoting for 2008. It is simple and easy and almost everyone can participate at whatever level of fitness they are at. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, comfortable clothing, a pedometer, and you're all set.
For further discussion contact contactus@mynewtemple.org or write to us on the message board http://mynewtemple.org/aMessages.html or the Fitness Blog http://mynewtemple.org/wordpress/.