Are You Drifting or in a Storm?

 Sharon

(Beginning August 1, the content of my blog will be completely different from the Girlfriends in God devotions. So if you are not signed up for my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com, please do it today…and invite all your friends. We’re going to have more give-a-ways, more personal interaction, and more inspiration than ever before! Now, on to today’s story!) 

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it,” (Hebrews 2:1 NASB).

It was supposed to be a sailing adventure for Pastor Loran and his youth group at Central Church. His friend procured three sailing vessels that resembled the Nina, Piñta, and the Santa Maria. I’m not sure how much they looked like the ships that came across the Atlantic with the Columbus, but they seemed just about as old.

When they left the dock, the sky was blue, the wind was brisk, and the teenagers were ready to forge the sea. However, by nightfall, a threatening gale blew in and the rolling waves grew to fifteen foot walls of water, tossing the tiny boats like toys in a toddlers tub.

“Loran,” the captain said, “This storm could mean big trouble for us. You’re going to have to stay up all night and hold the wheel steady to keep the boat on course.”

So all-night, Loran fought the storm. He kept alert. He prayed to the One who calms the seas and kept his eyes on the sailboats in front of him – one of which held two of his most prized possessions, his daughters. Hundreds of times, the boat shot straight into the air and then dashed into the inky water. But Loran held fast. It was a battle he was determined to win.

In the wee hours of the morning, the wind and rains came to a halt. The storm had passed and once again the boats cut a smooth path across the glassy sea. Everyone was exhausted from the rollicking of the night before, so the team decided to look for a lagoon to drop anchor and rest. One was found, and the three sailing vessels stopped for a few hours of rest and relaxation in the safety of the cove.

Loran jumped in the cool crystal blue water and suddenly realized how tired he was from the struggle of the night before. He turned over on his back, closed his burning eyes, and began to float. Slowly the knots in his neck and back began to unwind and tension escaped from his aching muscles. The noises of the teens playing in the water were soon muffled and the only sound he heard was water splashing against his skin and the occasional call of a sea gull. He was so relaxed he almost drifted off to sleep as his body drifted out to sea.

After some time, Loran looked up and noticed that he had drifted a great distance away from the rest of his party. They were playing happily in the water and had no idea Loran was gone.

“OK, Lord. Help me get back,” he prayed.

Loran swam and swam, fighting the water with all his might, but the receding tide was stronger that he was. After what seemed like a lifetime, Loran was still a mile or so from his friends and family.

“Help!” he cried. But no one heard his distant cry.

“Oh God! Don’t let me die now.”

Somehow, Loran finally made it back to the boat alive. As he lay panting on the deck, he realized a great truth.

Over the past twenty-four hours, he had been in great danger two times – once battling the storm and the other drifting out to sea. But of the two, he was in more danger when he was carelessly drifting along than he was when he was alert and standing fast.

Paul tells us in Hebrews 2:1 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.”

Carelessly drifting can be a dangerous business, but storms keep us alert and ready at the helm. We need to stay alert to the enemy’s tactics in the storm-times and the calm-times, and be careful not to drift along a current that takes us away from the course of life God has planned. So join me in paying attention today!

Let’s Pray

Dear Father, help me to always be alert. I know that the devil roams around like a roaring lion looking for those who are aimlessly drifting through life. He sneaks in when we least expect it. Help me never to get too comfortable with my life that I drift aimless along, but rather keep me alert to the changing winds and tides – holding fast to You in the storms of life and in the calm seasons as well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What Do You Think?

Can you think of a time when you were caught off guard by a temptation or by the devil?

What do you think could have made the difference in your ability to see the temptation coming?

How would you describe your spiritual life at the time…alert and on course or drifting?

If this post encouraged you to pay attention during both the calm and chaos, click over to my blog and say, “I’m on guard!”

Want More?

Spiritual Warfare is very real. If you would like to learn more about how to take every thought captive and recognize the enemy before he strikes, check out my book, I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves. In it you’ll learn how to recognize Satan’s lies, reject the lies, and replace the lies with truth.

http://sharonjaynes.com/are-you-drifting-or-in-a-storm/?utm_source=Sharon+Jaynes+-+Blog+Posts&utm_campaign=ba0b87e4f0-

Are You Drifting or in a Storm?

(Beginning August 1, the content of my blog will be completely different from the Girlfriends in God devotions. So if you are not signed up for my blog at www.sharonjaynes.com, please do it today…and invite all your friends. We’re going to have more give-a-ways, more personal interaction, and more inspiration than ever before! Now, on to today’s story!) 

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it,” (Hebrews 2:1 NASB).

It was supposed to be a sailing adventure for Pastor Loran and his youth group at Central Church. His friend procured three sailing vessels that resembled the Nina, Piñta, and the Santa Maria. I’m not sure how much they looked like the ships that came across the Atlantic with the pilgrims, but they seemed just about as old.

When they left the dock, the sky was blue, the wind was brisk, and the teenagers were ready to forge the sea. However, by nightfall, a threatening gale blew in and the rolling waves grew to fifteen foot walls of water, tossing the tiny boats like toys in a toddlers tub.

Don't Give Up!

MARGARET ENGLISH DE ALMINANA

If you’re accustomed to praying in the power of Holy Spirit, you’ve probably experienced seasons of spiritual warfare. Sometimes it may seem as if all hell is breaking loose—literally.

People may seem to get mad at you for no reason. Others may begin gossip campaigns. Your car breaks down and the kids act up. Your husband says you are spending too much time in prayer. Your friends tell you to back off—that you’re just no fun anymore. In these seasons, problems can feel as though they are pouring into your life from every angle, and you can end up feeling misunderstood, confused, rejected and alone.

But you’re not alone! Seasoned intercessors all experience such problems. In fact, they say they expect them—and rejoice because they believe they are making progress in prayer.

How to Speak to the Storm in the Midst of Struggles

MARGARET ENGLISH

 

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(© Alexeybykov/ StockFreeImages.com)

Have you ever been in a stormy situation in which it seemed as if the devil was attempting to stir up everything in your life: strife, contention, hurt and wounds, anger, fear—the works?

I’m learning that in the midst of life’s storms the Lord has a powerful solution. We can speak peace to the storm, according to Mark 4:39.

This verse tells us that in the midst of a great windstorm, Jesus “arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still” (NKJ). Because Christ, the greater One, lives in us, we can take authority in a similar way over the rough places in our lives.

At times we can feel the spiritual storms beginning to blow around us. Tempers flare, fingers point, and confusion and hurt try to overwhelm us. How can we not only exist but also live happy lives in the midst of such spiritual warfare?

Rx for Recovery

Written by Annette Capps   

Today we hear much about recovery. There are divorce recovery workshops, alcohol and chemical dependency support groups, co-dependency recovery classes. It seems that there is a great emphasis on restoring the soul (mind, will, & emotions) and rightfully so. There are many, many wounded people even in the church. Maybe I should say, especially in the church.

In faith circles, people are sometimes hesitant to admit they don’t “have it all together.” To admit that you are in mental, emotional, or physical distress would be considered a “faith-failure”. Instead of seeking support from the body of Christ, many have kept their pain to themselves, suffering as they keep up a good front.

Unfortunately, relationship and marital failures have exploded also. Rather than admit their difficulties, many have found it necessary to leave the church because of the judgmental attitudes of their peers and leaders.

It is not what you have that counts

2 Corinthians 10:3-7 (King James Version)
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?


Our warfare is spiritual and not in the natural realm.  If we learn to win the battle in the spiritual realm we will then see differences in our circumstances.

This passages teaches us:

Do not look at the outward appearance.

Ready for Spiritual Warfare?

Greg Laurie

When it comes to the Christian life, we will either gain or lose ground. We will either win or lose. But we have to be involved in the spiritual battle. Spiritual pacifists will be knocked down, because the Christian life is not a playground, but a battleground.

It is up to us to fight the good fight of faith. So we need to suit up and learn the principles from God’s Word that teach us how to be more than conquerors in Jesus Christ.

First, we need to put on the full armor of God as we engage in the spiritual battle. Ephesians 6:11 tells us, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (NKJV).

The phrase “put on” carries the idea of doing something once and for all. It speaks of permanence. The full armor of God is not something we put on and then take off again. We are to keep it on all the time.

Harnessing Your Imagination And Intuition

The Book of Job reveals the following:

But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. Job 32:8

You have a spirit, given you by God, and through your spirit God intends that you communicate with Him, receive from Him, and join with Him. It is impossible to know God without the activity of your spirit.

At the same time, when you were in your fallen state, outside of Christ, living in death, the result of sin, your spirit became tainted and resulted in your waywardness from God, and your inability to see, hear, and speak about genuine reality both invisible and visible accurately. Everything coming from your spirit as a result of the fall tainted your thinking, feeling, speaking, and acting.

Making a House a Home

by Ameerah 

(USA)

Keeper of the Home

"She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat" -Proverbs 31:27 (AMP)

Is there still respect for the art form known as Christian homemaking? Or is keeping one's home merely a mundane task that is more often rushed through and resented rather than treasured and honored?