Today's writing by Jan Andersen is entitled "STORM WARNINGS" where she talks about the storms of our lives and how we don't always take heed to the warnings we are given. Thankfully, we have a loving and forgiving God to see us through.
May your day be blessed.
Jan and Corinne
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's Devotional
Written by
Jan Andersen
"STORM WARNINGS"
Another hurricane comes ashore. Warnings go out ahead of time, as with hurricanes we at least know beforehand that there is a large storm approaching. The exact timing or places it will hit hardest may not be exact, but at least the meteorologists can make some calculations. But people get tired of hearing about it over and over again on the news. Evacuation orders are issued for the most likely landfall areas. Yet some ignore the warnings and decide to stick it out to protect their property, or because they simply don’t believe the forecast of where it will hit or how severe the storm will be in their area. Many make a run for the grocery stores - bread shelves are emptied, toilet paper is stockpiled, flashlights and batteries are snatched up.
People sometimes ignore God’s warnings as well. We get complacent. Don’t do this or that? Last time that we did it we weren’t struck by lightening. Fully rely on God? We’ve made it through tough times on our own before and didn’t drown. The end of the world is near? There is time, no hurry.
We don’t always realize that God is with us whether we are aware of his presence or not. He knows everything that we do, good or bad, at any time. He sees what is happening to us even when we don’t call on him for help. When the waters get really rough and we finally realize our neglect of God’s warnings, it is never too late to turn to him. Thankfully, our Life Saver walks on water! He is our anchor in the storms on the sea, even when we are battered and torn. No matter how far down the road of complacency or rebellion we have gone, God is waiting for us to call out for his help and to trust in his deliverance. Sometimes we will pay an earthly price for our neglect. Physical health may fail when we don’t seek the doctor’s help soon enough. Family and friends may desert us because of our wayward ways. Or they themselves let us down due to their own misguided actions. But spiritual redemption is always at hand. We can always take refuge in the shelter of God’s shadow. Even when we are in the midst of the storm, we can be protected by God in the eye of the hurricane. As we remain faithful, He guards and guides us through this life until the storms of destruction pass, ultimately providing us a glorious home in heaven with him. And this is all due to what he did for us in his son, Jesus Christ, on the cross, not because of our own inadequate words and deeds. God not only provides the warnings to guide us, but also the life boat to save us!
Psalm 57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
Dear God in heaven, master of the universe and deliverer of our souls, be with us through the storms of this life and protect us until they have passed. Help us to remain faithful at all times and to heed your warnings and be ready for your return. May we be lights to the world of your saving grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
written by Jan Andersen, in the eye of the storm of life
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eye of the Storm, by Ryan Stevenson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayers are lifted up daily for you
by the Staff Writers of
Women's Focus Ministry
Jan Andersen, Cathy Friberg, Sandy Billingham, Beverley Napier, Shelly Keith,
Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward, Karen Bennett,
Carol Steficek, Amie Spruiell, and Corinne Mustafa
Occasional Contributors
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Kathy Bireley, Lynda Kinnard, Mary M. Wilkins,
Terri Baker, Beverley Napier, Kelly Dobyns
Glenna Williamson, Lisabeth Lipp, Nandita Bhatnagar.
No comments:
Post a Comment