Pray:
Ask God to orient or reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.
Read:
Psalm 107: 23-32
“23 Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. 24 They saw the works of the LORD, His wonderful deeds in the deep. 25 For He spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. 26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. 27 They reeled and staggered like drunken men; they were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. 31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. 32 Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.”
Understand:
The psalmist wants people to see that the Lord is the one who delivers people out of the storm. The storms described are more than natural weather phenomena. He is telling a story to illustrate how the storms of life can press in on us and make us feel as though all is lost.
The stoutest of ships can be smashed to pieces in the raging sea. Storms as strong as the one described in the psalm can make even the toughest sailor lose courage. It leaves them staggering like a drunk and it brings them to their wits’ end. There’s nothing they can do but call out to the Lord.
Once more the Lord answers. He stills the storm, quiets the sea, brings calmness, and guides them to safety.
Apply:
The storms of life will come our way. I’m like all of you…the last thing I want to do is go through a storm. We’re not promised a life free from pain and suffering, but we are promised an eternal hope that will not fail.
I think that’s what Paul is getting at in 2 Cor. 4:8-17 when he writes, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies… 14We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you…16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
The truth is that those who have seen God work in times of distress have a deeper insight into His loving-kindness. If you are or have experienced the storms of life, you have potential for great praise. Turn to Him and place your hope in Jesus. Don’t underestimate His power to handle the storms in your life.
“Give thanks to the LORD for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men…exalt Him in the assembly of the people and praise Him in the council of the elders.”
Live:
(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)
Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today. KEEP PRAYING THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.