“But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40: 31)
Once the disciples when sailing in a boat were hit by savage storms. They looked around, saw Jesus and then cried out for help ( Mark 4:38). Of course, it is only human to cry out for help when life is at crossroads! Like the disciples you could be in the middle of some wicked storm, and, what else but scream for relief!
The preacher and writer Charles Spurgeon (1834- 1892) once observed that after we have cried out to God, sometimes, like David, all we need is wait upon God in silence. Our silence is not a sign of abdication. We are silent because we know the Lord has heard our prayers and is in control.
We are silent because looking back we know the Lord has come through and rescued us from peril over and over again. True, the storms may still be raging, and the boat we are in is being tossed up and down, but we know the Lord has heard our pleas and he will come calling in time. Friends have abandoned us and our hearts are aching. But in the midst of all we keep composure because we know that by faith God will save us from all the troubles we face.
We remember that while undergoing storms of all nature David wrote, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:2-3).
The cries of the disciples was not in vain. After a while the Lord heard their cry and replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm”. (Mathew 8:26).
Only you know what storms you are facing or may one day find yourself entangling. Just as with the disciples cry out to God as indeed you should! But after, remember what He has said, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” ( Psalm 46:10). Then just you wait on the Lord!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, in the midst of storms I cry out to you and remain silent knowing that you have heard me and in your time shall indeed come through because I have waited upon you, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
-
17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
