Date: Saturday, June 28, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 106-108
Message Title: A Shelter In The Storm

Storms, you know when they are coming because it gets dark and dreary outside, there is nothing you can do to stop storms, but you can be prepared to weather them. Storms of life happen the same exact way, we know they are coming because things do get dark and dreary, there is nothing we can do about it, but prepare ourselves to weather them. Our preparation needs to begin with God, who is our shelter in the time of storm. “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” - Isaiah 25:1,4.

Quite often storms do come because God is trying to get His people's attention, when faced with adversity, many want to run from God, forgetting that He is right there to help them through it. We are reminded of the Israelites journey from Egypt to the promised land, and the mercy and grace He had toward a whiny, ungrateful bunch of people. “Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.” - Psalm 106:4-8.

Every day, thousands of people are saved from tragic, and miraculous events, all by the power of God to get them to acknowledge Him. Sadly, very few do, it is the few that will get to glory with God's inheritance. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” - Galatians 5:19-21.

Yes, we can get whiny and ungrateful when living in the flesh, that only makes the storm stronger. Christians can get really caught up in the winds of the world. In fact, it is getting so bad that many combine their worldly lifestyles with God, add Jesus into the picture to justify their actions, and forget all about God. We are reminded of what the Israelites had done to forget God. “They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD. They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass. They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt; Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.” - Psalm 106:16,19-23.

Believe it or not, it's the prayers of loved ones that keep some people alive in the hopes that they will believe in and accept the Lord, Jesus Christ as their Savior. If you have ever been on a boat or ship than you probably have gotten a bit weary when you see a storm coming, it truly is the hand of God. And nothing will save them unless they have a strong, sturdy ship. “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.” - Psalm 107:23-25,28-31,43.

Storms of life can destroy us, they really start off as just a rainy day, we manage to get by, then the rains get heavier, and all of a sudden, a storm brews out of control. We do not know how to handle it, the more we try to control it, the more the storm rages. Our only hope, Jesus. He will calm the storm. “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” - Nahum 1:7.

Even faithful Christians can forget God, after a while we can become like robots, just doing things out of habit, and not really for God, that is when God sends a storm to get our attention. So, when we are living our lives as we should and still have storms, that is when God is simply trying to bring us closer to Him and get us to trust Him. “O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth; Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” - Psalm 108:1-5,12,13.

Every Christian has times in their lives when the storms of life do wear them down to the point that they are weak and weary, even of their faith in God. However, God does know our heart, and it really is fixed on Him, we just may have it blocked with some debris from the storm, but as soon as we remove them, we will see our faith in Him. God does not require a lot of faith, He just requires some, even the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Jesus is our rock, in Him we are to hide, He truly is our shelter in the time of storm. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:1-4.

Today's Prayer: God, As much as I try to prepare for a storm, when it comes I still get a little scared. You are my shelter, as long as I am with You, no permanent damage can come to me. Lord, give me Your power, strength, and guidance to weather the storms of life, keep my eyes on You, and not my circumstances. Help me to stand strong in my faith, and not give up on the sun shining once again. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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