09/20/2017
Amen
Nahum 1:7, ESV
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.”
The Storm
It is the end of summer. Many of us have been enjoying ourselves with some time off from work. Family events are planned to enjoy the last little bit of fun left in the season. I was recently with some of my family for a weekend getaway. After that weekend I started feeling sick and I came down with bronchitis which swiftly moved into pneumonia. While I was being treated for this, miles away my daughter and her family were hit by hurricane Harvey. I prayed and watched, as did so many others. I felt weak, sick and powerless.
They ended up with near forty inches of rain. I watched from across the country as the flood waters continued to raise around my daughter and others. The deluge of rising water seemed never ending. Rain poured, highways became rivers.
We are often going about our business working, playing and then a storm hits. We are told to be prepared with emergency rations, generators, and plenty of water. I know many people have tried to be ready for the storms that come. How can we prepare for every contingency that is out there? The answer is you cannot. Only Jesus knows what you will face. What does Jesus say about the storms in life and how to prepare for them? Most of us have heard about the wise man who built his house upon a rock. You may have heard the children’s song. It compared the wise man to the foolish man.
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27, ESV)
Houston Texas is still in the midst of the aftermath of this Hurricane. People are reaching out to help each other. Prayers are on many peoples lips. Keep them in your prayers. Are you going through a storm in your life? You have a place of refuge, Jesus.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, ESV)
If you are not currently in a storm then build your house on the rock, Jesus. Learn of Him and get to know Him. This is the best way to prepare for whatever may come!
‘We lean on You Lord Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. You are our anchor, our strong fortress, you hold us in the palm of your hand. You are bigger than our problems; You are strong when we are weak. We want to build our lives on you. You do not break apart when the storms come into our lives, thank your Jesus. “On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand”’
A few verses from the song “My Hope is built on Nothing Less”, by Edward Mote reminds us where we can be on solid ground during the storms of our lives.
“When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.
“His oath, His covenant, and blood support me in the whelming flood; when every earthy prop gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”
- Sheila Murphy
September 16, 2017 Great Expectations article
The Fruitful Women Online Magazine - thefruitfulwomen.org
