Mark 4:38-41 Jesus
Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to
Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and
rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down
and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it
that you have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another,
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
Jesus, who had
shown them so much in the days, weeks, and months previous showed them again
that He had power over all things, including even the winds and seas. After calming things down He spoke to them
about the turmoil in their own hearts, asking them why they were so afraid.
Hadn’t they seen enough yet to believe? In Proverbs 12:25 we read, “Anxiety in
a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Jesus spoke and
things got quiet. At this time His disciples really didn’t understand just who
it was who was speaking those powerful words, and their focus switched from a
fear of the storm to being very much afraid of the One who calmed the storm.
But as we know from Scripture they did not remain that way. In fact, it was through
them that Jesus was going to start His church. And it was one of the leaders
among them, Peter, that penned the following:
1 Peter 5:6-11 Therefore
humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the
proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit,
be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring
lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith,
knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your
brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the
God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself
perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and
ever. Amen.
For today Sarah
writes about stopping worrying long enough to hear God’s voice. As it was with
the disciples, there are times for all of us when situations can seem so big that our hearts and minds become scrambled in the turmoil. And like the
disciples we might even wrestle with our emotions concerning God really caring or being aware of what is going on. Yet in our minds as we embrace the truths of His Word, we can be certain that He does know
and He is powerful to deal with everything that He allows our way. The problem
is not Him taking a nap while leaving us on watch. The issue is us keeping our
eyes on Him and trusting Him even when we nap. As a man Jesus knew how to rest,
and as God He knows how to give us rest.
Paul gives us an answer for these times in Philippians 4:6-7.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” And Psalm 46:10-11 tells us, “Be still,
and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted
in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. [ESV]
Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/9)
Stop worrying long enough to hear My voice. I speak softly
to you, in the depths of your being. Your mind shuttles back and forth, hither
and yon, weaving webs of anxious confusion. As My thoughts rise up within you,
they become entangled in those sticky webs of worry. Thus, My voice is muffled,
and you hear only “white noise.”
Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so you can think My
thoughts. This ability is an awesome benefit of being My child, patterned after
My own image. Do not be deafened by the noise of the world or that of your own
thinking. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Sit quietly in
My Presence, letting My thoughts reprogram your thinking.
… And that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his
voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you
many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Deuteronomy 30:20
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he
created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
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