In Jeopardy

IN JEOPARDY

Luke 8: 23 “But as they sailed he fell asleep:  and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.”

Is Jesus sleeping in your life?  All you have to do is wake him up and let him take over.  Ask for him to help you and he will.  He does not force himself on anyone.  Free will means it’s your choice to accept or reject Jesus in your life.  He is there waiting to be called.  Jesus knows about your storms before they form.  He knows when you make a decision that’s going to lead to a storm.  He is there whispering in your ear ‘no—don’t’ but you don’t hear him or you won’t listen.  Then the storm comes and you wonder why.  Even so he will still help if you ask him to.  Remember Jesus’ presence, listen for his voice, and don’t hesitate to ask him what you need to do.  If, as is often the case, you don’t ask and get yourself into a mess, call on him still and he will be there for you.  Once you accept and surrender to his presence in your life it’s a new beginning for you.  Accept Jesus today and follow his will.  There will still be storms but they will not be the same as those storms which are the result of disobedience.  Storms which are part of his plan for your life have purpose, meaning, and good will come of them.

Dear heavenly Father, help me recognize the storms I’ve created in my life and help me yield to the control of the Holy Spirit.  Help me stay within your will so that all my storms have meaning and purpose.  My prayer is today that I never have a storm of my own making.  I pray that all of the storms I experience are part of your plan for my life.  I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Adversity

Psalms 94: 13   That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.

I know you are tired of the battle.  It can sometimes be so hard to keep going.  It seems you make no progress.  Often it feels you are right back where you started.  It’s easy to get discouraged in this life.  Years go by and nothing seems to get better for you.  Sometimes, you fear, things are getting worse.  Think of David who, although anointed King of Israel at a very young age, spent years running, fighting, and hiding in a cave.  He waited many years for the fulfillment of his anointing yet he never questioned it.  He was tempted with opportunities to speed up his destiny but he always said he’d wait for God’s way.  Think of Abraham and Sarah who, although promised a child of their own, thought they had fulfilled their own promise by doing it their way.  They could not or would not wait for God’s way.  Regardless of your problems, discomfort, fears, and confusion, God always keeps his promises and he is always right on time.  Never fear.  Time is no barrier to God.  Who are you going to be more like as you wait for the fulfillment of his promise?  Will you be like David who never questioned God’s timing and trusted God to fulfill his promise no matter how long it took?   Or are you going to be more like Abraham and Sarah who could not wait and created a substitute for God’s promise.

Dear Heavenly Father, in your grace and mercy please forgive me my impatience and my lack of full faith.  Help me, Lord, have the faith and trust of David so that, no matter how long it takes, I will never doubt your promise or your steadfast love.  I have spent much of my life creating substitutes and accepting false manifestations of your promise.  Lord, I truly want my life to be according to your will and am willing to wait as long as it takes and do whatever it takes to remain in your will.  I ask for your strength, your patience, and your wisdom as I wait.  In Jesus’ name I ask and pray, Amen.

Drowning

Luke 8:  24 “The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’  When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves.  Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.” (NLT)

Have you ever felt like you were drowning?  It’s a bad feeling isn’t it?  It’s the feeling of being overwhelmed by the waves of life.  It’s the feeling of not being able to breathe.  When you try to take in air there is nothing but water. It’s the feeling of sinking into the darkness and not being able to get back up.  Drowning is more than just dying.  Drowning is being killed by life itself.  Too much of life is causing you to drown.  You can hear the noise of the storm.  You can feel the force of the wind.  You can feel the water on your face.  It’s very cold.  You feel alone and helpless.  You look around for something or someone to clutch.  You reach out and grabbed but catch nothing but air.  You feel rejected, abandoned, and alone.  Quickly, you remember the one…the only one… who can save you.  He is sleeping peacefully below the storm.  He is really only waiting.  He is waiting for you to call out for him.  “Master, master…I am going to drown.  Please help me.  I need you.”  All you have to do is call out and he will surely help you.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying, in my pride and arrogance, to do it on my own.  I know I cannot do anything in my own strength but only with your help can I do anything at all.  I ask you humbly to help me.  Show me the way.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

True Success

"True Success" By Diane Webb

Psalms 94: 12—"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;"

When God takes the time to correct you and teach you it is a great blessing. He has a plan for you and therefore works in your life. He takes an interest in your training. He is molding you into the person he needs you to be in order to fulfill your mission. He knows what he has for you to do and therefore will shape you to fulfill his will. Correction is not always pleasant but it is necessary for you to learn and grown in Christ. Just as a loving parent corrects their child, God corrects you. He will make sure you are fully equipped for the job he has for you to do. By submitting your will to his you can make it easier to accomplish God's goal for your life. Resistance only delays the process. Jonah resisted and therefore had to take the long and uncomfortable route to Nineveh. It's always best to obey God and trust he will never ask you to do anything he has not prepared you to do. True success in life only comes from obeying God's will and doing what you were made to do.

Dear heavenly father, I submit my will to yours and pray I only do what you have asked me to do. I pray that, with your help, I learn what I need to learn in order to grow in the direction you have planned for me. I pray, Lord, that each and every day only brings me closer to fulfilling your will for my life. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.

What’s Best

What's Best By Diane Webb

Luke 8: 25—"And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! For he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him."

Worry and fear is a lack of faith. If God is in control of your life…if you have submitted yourself to him, what are you fearful of? Do you not believe that God is in charge of this world as well as the heavens? Don't you believe God has full authority and power over every living and non-living thing? Then where is the worry coming from? Believe in God who created this world and trust his will. It's not always apparent what the overall good is from any situation. Sometimes there is tragedy, injustice, pain, and suffering. As long as you have submitted to God and are obeying his will you know everything is part of his plan for your life. It is not always comfortable or pleasurable but ultimately if it's for God's kingdom and God's glory it will all make sense. What's best for God and God's kingdom is best for you and your family.

Dear heavenly father, thank you for all you have done in my life and are doing in my life. I pray, Lord, that you will keep me ever-mindful of your power and your will. Help me submit my life and my will to yours. Help me always do what's pleasing in your sight. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Endure Hardship

"Endure Hardship" By Diane Webb

Luke 10: 18—"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

God has power over Satan. Satan's very existence is only because God allows it. God has a plan and in the end Satan will be cast into the pit of fire for all eternity. Satan is your enemy but he is not to be feared. He has no power over you unless you give it to him or God permits it. Eliminate fear of Satan from your heart. Rebuke Satan at every opportunity. His goal is to deceive and destroy. He confuses you with distortions of the truth. He puts doubt, worry, and fear in your mind. He makes you question what you know to be true. Instead of focusing on Satan and what Satan might do, have a respectful fear of God. God has all power and authority on earth and in heaven. There is nothing he does not have ultimate control over. God is in control. When life seems to be one hardship after another, and you know you are doing the best you can to live within God's will, remind yourself "God is in Control". Do not fret about the attacks of Satan or the trials you go through. Trust in God and in what he has revealed to you. God keeps his promises, he is true to his word, and he never contradicts scripture. Satan's power is to be fought and rebuked but never feared. God's power is to be feared and never challenged. God wants you to submit to his authority and let him lead the way. He will tell you what he wants for you to know. His timing is his own. Don't worry but keep up your ongoing battle against the powers of darkness. This life was never meant to be easy for Christians. Your rest and reward is not on earth during this time. Your rest and reward is in eternity. Your job on earth is to obey God, rebuke Satan, and endure hardship.

Dear heavenly father, forgive me for ever listening to Satan and doubting you. I pray you will strengthen my faith and help me remember that you are in control at all times. Help me rebuke the work of Satan and fear no one but you. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Angels

"Angels" By Diane Webb

Psalms 91: 11—"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

God has sent his angels to watch over you in everything you do. He has also given you the Holy Spirit as counselor and comforter. You have all you need in order to feel at peace with God and secure in his love for you. You are surrounded with encouragement and support. You have ready access to advice, guidance, and wisdom. Not only do you have angels and the Holy Spirit, you also have God's word in scripture. This gives you a way to always know and understand God's will for your life. If you are feeling separated from Christ then look at what you may have done to pull away God. If you have not done anything to pull away from God then rebuke Satan immediately. Sometimes people pray against you and wrongful prayers may result in a feeling of separateness from God. You can feel the power of wrongful prayers because they leave a feeling of unease and aloneness. Your greatest weapon is the word of God. Listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and fight evil through the use of scripture. God will never forsake you. If you are separated from God it is not him moving away from you but it is you moving away from him or it's a wall that's come up between you. Always pray then turn to scripture for truth and guidance.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for ever thinking you'd turn your back on me. Help me recognize when I have turned away from you. Help me discern the power of wrongful prayers as a wall and give me the wisdom to rebuke the power of Satan through scripture. I pray in Jesus' holy name, Amen.

 

Be cheerful

"Be Cheerful" By Diane Webb

Luke 10: 19—"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

You have nothing and no one to fear. You are not under the power of people but under the power of the Holy Spirit. No one has authority over you unless God allows it. If God allows it then it is good for his kingdom. What is good for his kingdom is good for you. Do not resist but submit to his will and submit to the authority he has placed you under for a time. Do not be resentful but be cheerful as you go about your duties today and every day. Having this work to do is a great privilege. You are meant to be a light in a dark place. God knows you are in a dark place and he has you there for a reason. Shine forth with his love, compassion, patience, and mercy. Be a beacon for others to see his light shining through you. Light was made for darkness—to brighten it. Light is meant to shine in the dark corners and reveal what is there. Light illuminates what was once hidden and therefore what has been hidden no longer has power to frighten.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the power to fight evil and thank you for your protection as I go about the work you have given me today. Help me go confidently without fear, doubt, or hesitation as I obey your will. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

His Sheep

"His Sheep" By Diane Webb

Psalms 91: 10—"There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling."

The Lord is protecting you from evil and sickness. Trust in him and obey him in everything you say and do. Listen for his voice and pay attention. His sheep knows his voice so listen carefully to him. He does speak to you and you can depend on what he says. He is in control and knows what he is doing. Do not despair when things do not seem to be happening as you have been promised. Keep up your faith and believe he will keep his promises. He is aware of what the future holds and you are not. You must sincerely submit to his will. Talk less and listen more. You will begin to notice and hear things you had not before because you are finally listening. It is very difficult to listen and talk at the same time. Therefore, practice listening. Do not get discouraged because discouragement is from the evil one. God's saints have hope and therefore have no reason to be discouraged. Of all people on earth, God's people should be the happiest because they alone have the promise of eternal life with Jesus. Nothing on earth can compare to living in the presence of God. Stop worrying about earthly things. God will provide for you.

Dear heavenly father, thank you for the safety, healthy, and provision for my family. Help me become more trusting of you and less prone to discouragement. Help me keep a cheerful heart and countenance especially when I am ministering to others. I pray the hope of all Christians is obvious in my words and actions. Stay with me Lord, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Never Disappointed

"Never Disappointed" By Diane Webb

Psalms 91: 9—"Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation:"

Dwell in the Lord. Let Him be your home. He is your refuge and your home. Live for Him and in Him throughout all your days. Living with the Lord is your only happiness—your only hope. He is your salvation from all that is evil in this world. He is your hope of deliverance. What building you live in or what place of employment you work in only matters so much as you are living in Him and through Him and by Him. He is the rock of your foundation. He is the support beam of your life. He is the comfort of your sleeping place. He is your door of security. Place all hope in Him and nothing else. Anything else is false hope. Disappointment comes from having faith in earthly things. This is false security. The only true hope is in Christ. In Christ you will never be disappointed.



Dear heavenly father, please guard my heart from falling prey to disappointment.  Help me place my hope and trust in you alone.  Help me exercise that faith in all my decisions.  Help me banish all worry from my mind and heart.  I humbly pray in Jesus' name, Amen.