Faith Calms the Storm
The current guidance from God is continuing down the same path today. The overall message is: being conquerors, in-Christ, through whatever storms we may be addressed with. Quenching the fires, calming the storms, winds, and waves of life. Lord, thank you for being you and fulfilling your promises. Thank you for being trustworthy and faithful to your Word. As it is written, you cannot deny yourself, your Word, your promises… Praise the Lord my Rock! In your name Jesus, Amen.
Whenever I diligently seek after His guidance, He rewards as He says in Hebrews. Praise God Almighty –
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
This testimony of God answering prayers for guidance started in yesterday’s post, Jesus Quenches the Fire. In this post, Faith Calms the Storm, God is continuing this guidance. I know He has revealed this same lesson in the past, and here I am again. Learn the lesson or retake the course Joseph! It can get frustrating sometimes to repeat these lessons because I just want to walk in what He shows, 100% of the time. Tiller of the hearts, please prepare my heart so that your precious seeds can be planted on fertile soil, never to be stolen, never to fade.. Help me with constant ministering. I need continual Food, Light, and Water for the increase Lord. I pray for the increase that you promise. Help me Helper. Help all of us. Your Word says that it will not return to you void and it will do what it is purposed to do. I take my claim as a joint heir in-Christ and not only for myself, but for any saints that you have guided to this post, in Jesus name. Amen
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Here is the guidance received today on faith that calms the storm. They are all the same Spiritual teachings, globally. Firstly, in this storm I am receiving all kinds of guidance from men. Everyone has advice in this storm. Over the past week, I have been struggling internally (spiritually speaking, a storm). The world and men of the world are giving me all kinds of advice to calm the storm. It all sounds good and appears right. Then, I have the unction from God “Trust in Me.” That’s one of the struggles I’ve been going through. Do I listen to men or do I listen to God? Faith in God calming the storm or faith in myself/men in calming the storm. I read this today. It pertains to Galatians 1:11-2:10 –
Man’s gospel, or God’s? Everything Paul says about himself he says to underscore this one basic point: He did not get his gospel message from any man, not even from the other apostles He got it straight from the Lord. Their message came from themselves, from their own minds and ideas. Paul’s came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Their message was man-centered, focusing on what people had to do themselves in order to be saved. Paul’s was Christ-centered, focusing on what He did in order to save us.
This is a direct answer to the internal struggle I have been having between: needing an answer and the Lord’s unction to “Trust in Me.” I have prayed for guidance and I am receiving guidance. Thank you Lord. As a side note, this does not necessarily mean that the guidance from men will not end up being the path that the Lord guides me down. There are multiple avenues I can take, only God knows which one is best. It may be none of these paths and the Lord will show me a better way in this storm. I will not know unless I continue to walk in faith during this storm. As I keep seeking Him, the storm is calmed and peace is with me. Praise God.
Then, I read my Oswald Chambers devotion today. Here is a snip from it. Again, guidance. I have faith and He is calming the storm. Learn the lesson Joseph, be sanctified –
There are times when you cannot understand why you cannot do what you want to do. When God brings the blank space, see that you do not fill it in, but wait. The blank space may come in order to teach you what sanctification means, or it may come after sanctification to teach you what service means. Never run before God’s guidance. If there is the slightest doubt, then He is not guiding. Whenever there is doubt – don’t.
In the beginning you may see clearly what God’s will is – the severance of a friendship, the breaking off of a business relationship, something you feel distinctly before God is His will for you to do, never do it on the impulse of that feeling. If you do, you will end in making difficulties that will take years of time to put right. Wait for God’s time to bring it round and He will do it without any heartbreak or disappointment. When it is a question of the providential will of God, wait for God to move.
Lastly, it came to a head in this devotion. Here is a sniplet of it, by Wilkerson –
A true worshipper isn’t someone who dances after the victory is won. It isn’t the person who sings God’s praises once the enemy has been vanquished. That’s what the Israelites did. When God parted the Red Sea and they arrived on the other side, they sang and danced, praised God and extolled his greatness. Yet, three days later, these same people murmured bitterly against God, at Marah.
A true worshipper is one who has learned to trust God in the storm. This person’s worship isn’t just in his words, but in his way of life. His world is at rest at all times, because his trust in God’s faithfulness is unshakable. He isn’t afraid of the future, because he’s no longer afraid to die.
I believe that the current guidance from the Lord is reminding me of things already taught because my mind’s eye was sucked into the storm . I believe the Lord is saying – Strengthen your faith Joseph, rely on Me, I am with you. I am going to help you in this situation, but.. it is impossible without faith. Don’t worry about the storm, don’t worry about the waves, wind, fire.. There is something much better for you than this distraction. I will take care of this, and I will take care of you. You must believe and have faith. If your belief is in yourself and your faith is in men, then although I am still with you, it will not be My guidance. If you trust in your own understanding and the advice of men, this will not turn out well and you will have the storm. Or, you can learn the lesson now. Trust in me. I got your back Joseph, I am the Calmer of the storms, no one else. This is a trial Joseph, so that your faith may be strengthened.. so that you may learn to trust in Me.. so that you may learn patience.. so that you may be sanctified.. so that you can later strengthen the brethren. I am testing you Joseph. Learn this lesson, or get pulled into the storm. We can do this again, or you can grow. It’s your choice. Choose wisely..
I want to encourage fellow believers real quick. This is a factual statement – Every single time I have diligently sought the Lord’s guidance and I have not hindered His answer from selfish desires (i.e. “my” timing, “my” answer, “my” thoughts, etc.), He has answered. Every time. There are things that I pray for, then I look for an answer based on what I want the answer to be. For example, I need to have an answer in this storm. I am looking for a specific answer and I’m not getting it. Does this mean He isn’t answering? No. It means He isn’t answering in the way I think He is going to answer. He is surely answering my prayer though. I prayed for guidance in this storm and I’m receiving Spiritual guidance, not worldly guidance. His goal is to form us into the image of His Son. Sanctify us. For us to be Holy. That’s what He’s doing here with me. The prayers are getting answered in perfect timing, and they are all perfect. They are imperfect, not in good timing, not answered, etc. only when I base it on my own understandings.
Ahh, peace. I am in this world, not of it. Thank you Jesus, the Calmer of all our storms. I am pressed in on all sides, but I will not give up. I am knocked down, but I get up. What can man do to me? To die is gain! Blessed be the Lord God Almighty. Prince of Peace, thank you.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
