What do I do next?
Keep the "who" first
Matthew 8:23-26 (NIV)
Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed him. Suddenly, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 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.
Have you ever felt like this?
You’re in a panic about the events raging around you. And you feel Jesus is sleeping (in the back of the boat) as things are falling apart. How dare He be asleep!? Doesn’t He know what’s going on? Why doesn’t He care? This ship (this situation) is about to sink (crash and burn). No matter what you do, it’s not getting any better and you can’t pull this rudder into alignment. Your emotions rise to a fevered pitch and you are approaching your wit’s end.
What to do?
When is it going to stop?
Where should we go?
Why did we get in this boat in the first place?
Who should we call?
Oh. Of course.
The Who should have been first. Before the What, When, Where, or Why.
Call on Jesus.
And with that, you pray.
Perhaps you will choose to turn to the Psalms and use some of David’s words to call out to the Lord:
Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer, it doesn’t rise from deceitful lips...I call on you, My God, for You will answer me. Show me the wonders of Your great love. (Psalm 17). Surely, Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5).
I love you, Lord, my strength. You are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. You are my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, my stronghold. (Psalm 18) Lord, calm the roaring waters and calamities that swirl about me. Hear my pleas and grant my requests.
And now that I am calm, knowing You are in control, I will praise the Lord. I will praise You in Your sanctuary and in the mighty heavens. I will praise You with all kinds of musical instruments, with dancing, and with my voice. From the bottom of my heart and from the depths of my spirit, I will praise the Lord. (Psalm 150)
As the world around us gets crazier every day and events spill into our personal lives, remember to call on Jesus first, not last, in all you do.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Abba Father, thank you that we can go to Your Word for everything – comfort, direction, even the words to use in our prayers. We ask that You still the angry waters and quiet the massive waves tossing us to and fro. Allow us to live with Peace Be Still in our spirit. We cling to You for comfort and strength. Nothing can be more important in our lives than living close to You. In Jesus name, Amen.
For the past 1 and 1/2 years of my life has been spent on my husbands heart failure (a birth defect), building a chicken coop, watching 4 out of 6 chickens die, learning my mother has been diagnosed with Kidney cancer, flying to MO to deal with all the stuff involved in preparing for the end of her life and being placed in a memory care facility (finally! after the hospitals shipped her across state without any of the POA being informed). I had the opportunity this weekend to spend with other women at a Women's Retreat with my church.
Our focus was Philippians 4:1-13. That has been my mantra for the past 15 years, but much more so since January 2023. I urge all of you to read that passage and STUDY it. Our speakers brought forth so many points how these passages pertain to us today. I pray our LORD Jesus Christ will strengthen us in His strength and we will focus on "Whatever is True...". He is our rock.
All of this garbage in our world does not pertain to us believers. I'm ready to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch God's plan unfold. Meanwhile, our job is to reach out to others and proclaim the goodness of Jesus. Stay strong in Him who created us to serve His purpose!
Love to all!
Keep Jesus FIRST, not second or third and definitely not last in all of your thoughts, words and deeds. We are to give Him our first fruits motivated out of Love for Him.
Soon those who worship Him in Spirit & in Truth will be in our glorious forever home🙏🙏🙏
Until that time, remember to allow the joy of the Lord to be your true source of strength - Amen