Good afternoon ladies. Today is a stormy day where I am. Not one of those terrible dangerous stormy days, at least not yet and I pray it doesn’t get that way, but definitely stormy. I’m one of those people who love the sound of thunder. I’ll sit on my porch swing for hours listening to it or lay in bed with the window open at night so I can hear it. Stormy days and nights remind me of God’s power. I’m also reminded of all the storms that I’ve come through with God’s power and I remember that with this storm comes the promise of a beautiful sun-filled sky after it’s gone. That sun-filled sky won’t stay around forever but I can rest assured that the storm won’t last forever and that’s the promise that gives my heart peace. Take a moment to spend in prayer before continuing with the word God has for us today. Psalm 30:5 (NIV) says: 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. This verse says two things and neither should be taken alone, just as in James 4:7 (You can’t rebuke unless you submit!) Firstly, when we sin this angers God. He can’t look upon sin. He has so much more planned for us; such greater things. But when we repent, truly repent, His anger only lasts a moment (though to us it may seem longer because of our natural consequences). But even through His anger, His love (or favor) lasts a lifetime. There’s nothing we can do to make God not love us. The second thing in this verse is the one that’s always thought of, which was actually what brought me to this verse in the first place. Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Sitting on my porch, or even in my house, listening to the strong thunder and watching the rain, I’m reminded that when this is gone, there’s going to be beauty. If God doesn’t call us home before this storm ends, there’s either going to be a beautiful starlit sky (if it ends tonight) or a gorgeous sunrise in a pink and blue sky. Our storms, like this one, don’t last forever. We have the guarantee from God that there will be rejoicing after. We may not rejoice the storm itself, but we can rejoice that it’s over. And we can rejoice during if we keep in mind that God uses all things to the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) and that during the times of hardship He’s doing a work in us. He may be using the opportunity to strengthen us in our walk, humble us, teach us patience or compassion, or just remind us from where our strength comes. But God is doing a work in us during the hard times so we must let Him do that work or else we’ll have to go through that process again and again until we get it right. If you’re going through a storm, rejoicing will return. If you’re not, always remember that we’re either in a storm, we just came out of one, or we’re about to enter one. There are no exceptions. Prayer: Father God, I thank You for the storms in my life even though at the time I may complain and whine. Help me to always at least be open and receptive to allow You to do Your work in me so I can continue to grow into the Christian woman You’d have me to be. Thank You for these storms today to remind me of these promises and this, Your word. Bless everyone in the path of these storms that there will be no lives or homes lost. Bless each lady reading this devotion. I love You and praise You. This I pray in Christ, Amen.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 19:50:32 +0000
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