With all that’s going on in our country and world and the depressing news media, I pray and keep receiving the same story imprinted on my heart about Jesus taking a nap in the storm.
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I don’t know about you, but there are nights where I haven’t been able to sleep due to worrying about the panic that is happening in seemingly high places. 😂💃 #IllCatchUpOnMySleepInHeaven
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But let’s imagine how the disciples feared for their lives about the storm and undulating lake. I bet some of them even heard stories of being sunk by such storms and I bet their “news media” of the day (aka gossip and word of mouth) told them all the possibilities of drowning and/or dying. Heck, they probably even had the story of Jonah being swallowed by a whale–in the back their minds (there probably weren’t whales in the lake–but fear does funny things to our imagination). 😅 I’m not going to lie–I would’ve been a basket case. I may have even tried shaking Jesus awake. #SonofGodWakeUp #DoYouSeeThis #TheresAStormBro #BeamUsUpToHeaven
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And yet….Jesus slept through it. Man, I wouldn’t even doubt if he snored.
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Was Jesus trusting on his own knowledge of boats and sea? Was he listening to the people’s past stories that invoked fear?
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No, He knew the power of God. He knew God would make a way for Him. He just needed to take a stand and rebuke the wind and waves.
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“23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” Matthew 8:23-27
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So, the beauty of this story is that storms will come…but God has a way for us. He has already given us the power through faith and through His Son’s holy name.
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God’s been telling me to work on my faith muscle instead of my worry one (which can probably bench press 500 lbs of news media). 😅🤣💪
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How do we build-up our faith?
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17
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Starting the day in the Word, listening to podcasts about the Word and ending the day with the Word.
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When that storm comes knocking, may we be filled so much with faith–that fear has no entry. 🧡💪💃 May we have the courage to rebuke the storm and have that smooth sailing of peace and calm.
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P.S. I like definitions so, I’m going to put this one here.
Rebuke: to reprimand : to reprove sharply or censure formally usually from a position of authority
Tag: spiritual warfare
I must be doing something right
I must be doing something right
By: Nicki Kent, OntheCliffofLife
I must be doing something right
For the enemy to battle me at night
For him to bring-up the many past slights
To make him laugh at me in pure delight
To make my future appear to be a fright
To come at me with fiery darts a flight
To grow fear–that everything will not be all right
To feel the sting of hopelessness and its poisonous bite
But then I remind the evil one–of God–his kryptonite
Who took his legs–making him slither away after his deceptive plight
Walking the narrow path God said to follow by faith and not by sight
Whilst warning there are detours the enemy will coerce you to with all his might
Just remind the enemy of his place and he will disappear into the night
And know he only battles those who must be doing something right
Spiritual Battle
The enemy threw spears and shot arrows at me
But his weapons fell against my armor, as useless as an unfitting key
His aim turned desperate in pushing every piece of my protective shield
Trying to find a weakness, but it was unrelenting and would not yield
Laughing at his meager attempts I wielded my sword to scare off my enemy
Knowing the power of God would be revealed for all to see
But as my arm lifted in a deafening blow
He saw a weakness begin to quiver and show
The enemy lifted his eyes in a mocking way
Causing my blade to stutter and sway
He began to mimic the painful words from long ago
That I would never amount to anything, that I should just cower and go
He made me feel like I lost the battle before it had even begun
The lies and fear of a failure whose song has not yet been sung
The enemy began to beat me with his dagger-like speech
I dropped to my knees and felt God’s hand out of reach
I begged God to show me a way to break free
But He said that the power and truth was already given to me
With the realization becoming stronger than before
I stood on the Rock, my salvation, the One who knocked on my heart’s door
I saw the truth that in God I find my identity
Not in the failures or the stinging lies of my enemy
I lifted my sword with a new strength that I had ever known
The enemy cowered and fled when he saw the true power shown
Yes, there will be more battles to be won
Resisting the enemy and fighting, but the war is already finished and done
onthecliffoflife.com 