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How to get out of the storm
'IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM.' ROMANS 8:37
Yesterday we learned some lessons from Paul's shipwreck experience. Today let's look at getting out of one without losing everything!
1) Prepare for the storm before you get into it! The wise man built his house on a rock because he understood that life is never smooth, sooner or later a storm will come along (Matthew 7:24). 'For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him' (Philippians 1:29 NIV). Being prepared for a storm will help get you through it.
2) Stay calm! Panic kills more pilots than bad weather because it clouds their ability to think. In the storm Jesus said to His disciples, 'It is I; don't be afraid' (Mark 6:50). Get your eyes fixed on Jesus and keep them there, otherwise your fear will take over and you'll be all over the place. If you're not looking to Jesus you're either looking at the problem, frantically searching for a solution or looking for other people to support you and sort things out. None of these are going to get you through in one piece like looking at Jesus in the first place.
3) Never abandon your purpose! They threw their cargo, the purpose for their journey, overboard. Don't do it! Never let go of the plans God called you to because it's these goals that will sustain you through the hard times. Later Paul would write, 'We know that all things work together for good...to them who are the called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28). So be strong; the storm doesn't decide your future, God does. He's still in charge.
written by Bob Gass
'IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM.' ROMANS 8:37
Yesterday we learned some lessons from Paul's shipwreck experience. Today let's look at getting out of one without losing everything!
1) Prepare for the storm before you get into it! The wise man built his house on a rock because he understood that life is never smooth, sooner or later a storm will come along (Matthew 7:24). 'For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him' (Philippians 1:29 NIV). Being prepared for a storm will help get you through it.
2) Stay calm! Panic kills more pilots than bad weather because it clouds their ability to think. In the storm Jesus said to His disciples, 'It is I; don't be afraid' (Mark 6:50). Get your eyes fixed on Jesus and keep them there, otherwise your fear will take over and you'll be all over the place. If you're not looking to Jesus you're either looking at the problem, frantically searching for a solution or looking for other people to support you and sort things out. None of these are going to get you through in one piece like looking at Jesus in the first place.
3) Never abandon your purpose! They threw their cargo, the purpose for their journey, overboard. Don't do it! Never let go of the plans God called you to because it's these goals that will sustain you through the hard times. Later Paul would write, 'We know that all things work together for good...to them who are the called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28). So be strong; the storm doesn't decide your future, God does. He's still in charge.
written by Bob Gass
