Blown away by God’s grace……!

I would like to share one of my favourite passages of scripture.  It speaks about God’s kindness and grace…. In your own time you can read the whole chapter because it is powerful but I will touch on a few verses that touch me the most:

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and in irons, 

Because they had rebelled against the words of God and spurned the most High. 

Therefore He bowed down their hearts with hard labor; they stumbled and fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 

He brought them out of the darkness and the shadow of death and broke apart the bonds that held them. Psalm 107:10-14

I understand as humans we sin. We get ourselves into trouble by making really bad decisions. We all make mistakes.

The people in the passage I just shared got themselves into trouble. They made all the wrong decisions. They rebelled against God. They were bound and in chains because they rejected God……

Because of their actions they were abandoned with NO ONE to help! They had no one to turn to but……..

They cried to the Lord!!!!! They cried to the Lord in their trouble and He saved them from their distresses! God had every right to leave them but He didn’t. It doesn’t make sense to the human mind. They were on the wrong, they abandoned God…..but in His grace and love and kindness He heard and answered their prayers!!!! That blows my mind and reminds me how little I know God’s grace!!

And that is the trend we see in the rest of the chapter. We see people getting themselves into trouble and God coming to save them as they cry out to Him! For effect I am going to share another story!

Some are fools [made ill] because of the way of their transgressions and are afflicted because of their iniquities. 

Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivers them out of their distresses. 

He sends forth His word and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. Psalm 107:17-20

God loves you and cares for you not because you are perfect. He knows your every mistake but still loves you. He knows every mistake you are still to make, bad decisions you are still to make but He still extends grace to you. He has given you a chance to cry out to Him. That is how good He is……!!!!! He doesn’t give up on you. He is waiting on you to turn to Him! It’s scripture like this that humbles me. I don’t understand the beauty of God’s grace and love but I am thankful for it because without it I would be abandoned and dead! I would be in hell with no hope of rescue!!

The last part of the chapter is so powerful. It talks about men who do their business at sea! I would guess these men are sailors and have great experience and understanding of the sea. They are totally qualified to be out at sea. But something happens out at sea! They encounter a storm!!

[Those aboard] mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the deeps; their courage melts away because of their plight. 

They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and are at their wits end [all their wisdom has come to nothing]. 

Then they cry to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. Psalm 107: 26-28

For a while they tried to rely on what they know to get them out of the storm but that didn’t work! How many of us have tried to get ourselves out of trouble? It says “all their wisdom has come to nothing”.

God is so good because even when they tried to solve a situation in their own strength and failed, God by His grace saved them!!!! As I end I would like you to think about His grace! It is so amazing! He wants you to rely on Him, on His grace. He knows you are human and He wants to deliver you. He wants to save you from sin. No matter what you have done, no matter how bad it is, know that He wants to heal you and set you free. He wants to break the chains that have bound you! It is not to late for you……Turn to Him and He will answer you!!!

Whoso is wise [if there be any truly wise] will observe and heed these things; and they will diligently consider the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord.   Psalm 107:43

Rolain

 

 

Finding Peace In The Storm.

I believe a storm is either coming your way or you in a storm right now or one has just passed!! The crazy thing about this situation is, storms are vital for growth. If you are to become all God has for you then you need storms, we ALL need storms! We don’t pray for storms to come but we pray that we will learn what we are supposed to learn and see what we are supposed to see and grow from it. With that said, how are we supposed to carry ourselves in a storm? Storms will always come but how do we deal with them? Your attitude determines everything when you are in a storm. So it is important what kind of attitude you have. It will determine if you are victorious or if you fail.
Proverbs 15:15 says,
All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
The word foreboding is an interesting word because it implies a feeling of coming evil. Predicting evil in your life is not being realistic and it is not God’s way. In fact that is the type of attitude that will stop your breakthrough in the midst of the storm. Anxious thoughts and forebodings are short circuiting your growth! The right attitude is key when you are in a storm.
King David is a great example of what your attitude should be like in the midst of a storm. In Psalm 57 we are given a lot of insight into King David’s attitude. This psalm was written when King David was fleeing from Saul and he was hiding in a cave!! He was in a really bad place. King Saul was trying to kill him and he was hiding in a cave! Here are a few things that I see:

– The first thing to note is King David doesn’t ask for the death of his enemy. He doesn’t complain and grumble about why he is where he is. Instead he looks to God. This is what he says,
Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, for my soul takes refuge and shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed. Psalms 57:1

Where are you focused during a storm? Are you panicking and fretting? God wants you to look to Him. He is the Lord over your storm. He is in control and I think King David knew that.

– The other thing to note is the way he spoke. In the midst of the storm, running away from Saul who was trying to kill him, hiding away in a dark cold cave he was speaking life over his situation!!! Speaking about God he says,
He will send from heaven and save me from the slanders and reproaches of him who would trample me down or swallow me up, and He will put him to shame.
Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! God will send forth His mercy and loving-kindness and His truth and faithfulness. Psalms 57:3

What is coming out of your mouth during the storm? King David spoke the answer, He spoke God!! Are you speaking more death by complaining and whining or are you speaking God into your situation?? That is something to think about.

– The next point is so important. King David praised God. There is something powerful when we praise God. King David was a worshiper and we need to learn to praise God when we are in a storm. Praising God puts things in the right perspective. Praising God will help you focus on the right thing, God!

Be exalted, O God,above the heavens! Let Your glory be over all the earth!
Psalms 57:5

In the midst of the storms of life we need to worship God. As we do that we magnify God in our lives. Our troubles will seem smaller against a Great and Mighty God because they are! God is bigger than any problem we will ever face!!

– The last thing I would like to highlight is where his heart is at. King David had his heart fixed on God and that needs to be the same for us. In the midst of the storm King David’s heart was fixed on God. It was not focused on what was happening around him but on God!

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. Psalms 57:7

Is your heart fixed on God? Have you made  decision to focus on God? It so hard to focus on God when everything is going crazy around you. I know, I have been there. We need to make a decision to focus on God. Like I said, our attitude in the midst of a storm determines everything!

God wants us to grow and become more like Him. Will you embrace the storms of life or run away from them? It’s your decision….

Rolain