Brothers and sisters, in the times of storm, do not doubt but focus on Jesus, for storms will surely come in this wicked evil wilderness that we call home. When it does come, we must take courage, we must not lose hope, but focus on Jesus and not the storms around us.
In The Gospel of Matthew chapter 14, Jesus tells His disciples, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” Jesus was walking on water in the middle of the storm and when His disciples saw Him, they were afraid because they thought He was a ghost.
The disciples were literally in the middle of a storm and are probably wondering what the purpose of the storm was, but Jesus’ words demonstrate the purpose of the storm is to strengthen the disciples, for courage and help them not feel fear.
One will imagine how the disciples felt hearing the voice of Jesus in the middle of the storm. However, they had spent much time with Jesus to distinguish His voice from the noise of the storm.
Elijah also struggled to hear God’s voice amid being persecuted, It was only when he spent “holy hour” in the cave that he was able to hear God’s voice in the whisper. His quiet time in the cave helped him to identify God’s voice, and the disciples extensive time with Jesus, “their holy years” helped them separate Jesus’ voice from other voices.
Peter was able to walk on water when he focused on Jesus, when he fixed his eyes on Jesus, but soon as his focus was off Jesus, he began to sink. Jesus said, why did you doubt?
God says when we focus on Him, and acknowledge Him, He will deliver us. “Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalm 91:14-15). What a great promise.
The Lord will do as He has said, because of His faithfulness, He will protect and deliver you.
We are required to “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) (NIV). Brothers and sisters, the moment our focus is off Jesus, we will go astray because of Satan and his agents. Romans 8:5 tells us, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
The world is changing, wickedness, evil desires, and much more, but God remains the same, His Word is never changing. God looks at the heart, so please return to God. For He says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13).
We must let go of the old man, the old man that is corrupt, full of lies and deceit, and put on the new man that is Christ-like and be transformed daily into the new man and focus on our Lord. (Ephesians 4:22-24; John 6:63; Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Christianity is change.
Brothers and sisters, we must increase our prayer time, a dear brother advised me to increase the temperature of my prayer 100% degrees, I did, and something changed, something wonderful. Our Lord is loving and faithful. Matthew tells us “Jesus prayed till dawn.” 14:23-24. Most things will not come to us easily without many prayers, and that is because of enemies, known and unknown.
Brothers and sisters, it is difficult to go through storm without Jesus Christ, for in this world we will have tribulations, but in Jesus there is peace. So, we must have a quiet time with Him, for at that point, we will hear the still, calm, sweet voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen!