Time Out! Devotions

Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

Jesus Calms the Storm

³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

⁴¹They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

A woman was once asked what one of her favorite childhood memories was, and without hesitation she responded by saying,   “Being woken up out of a sound sleep by my dad to sit at our bay window and watch the lightning crawl across the sky during a big thunderstorm.” Watching storms was fascinating for her because she was in a safe, familiar place.

When storms arise in our life, it is comforting to have those around us who are familiar and safe—a spouse, children, or close friends. But when we are alone and facing uncertainty, we must remind ourselves that God controls not only the wind and the waves created by nature, but those created by life as well. We are never truly alone and facing the elements by ourselves; God will always walk through the storm with us.

During the uncertain and frightening storms of life, let us do as the Psalmist “…in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by” (Psalm 57:1).

(by Dr. David Jeremiah from the August 2009 issue of Turning Points magazine)

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

In the greatest difficulties, in the heaviest trials, in the deepest poverty and necessities, He has never failed me. George Muller

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up.

(Psalm 30:1 – NKJV)

In God’s book man is heading somewhere. He has an amazing destiny. We are being prepared to walk down the church aisle and become the bride of Jesus. We are going to live with Him. Share the throne with Him. Reign with Him. We count. We are valuable. And what’s more, our worth is built in! Our value is inborn.

You see, if there was anything that Jesus wanted everyone to understand it was this: A person is worth something simply because he is a person.

That is why He treated people like He did. Think about it. The girl caught making undercover thunder with someone she shouldn’t — He forgave her. The untouchable leper who asked for cleansing — He touched him. And the blind welfare case that cluttered the roadside — He honored him. And the worn-out old windbag addicted to self-pity near the pool of Siloam — He healed him!

(from No Wonder They Call Him the Savior by Max Lucado)

Psalm 29:4
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

Stacy loved going to the beach. At night she would lie awake, listening to the surf pounding on the rocks. Closing her eyes, she would pretend the sound was God’s own voice thundering through the night. Such thoughts helped her feel His presence, close and comforting. A voice with such power and might allowed no room for fear. The owner of a voice like that could do anything. Indeed, Stacy knew that nothing could defeat her God; the God who thundered and roared with the greatest of power and majesty!

Prayer:

Lord, You are greater than anything else in creation. In nature You display Your power and might. I stand in awe of all that You are, even though I understand very little. Thank You for Your love and protection. Amen.

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