Surviving Life’s Storms in 2019

So many of us rolled out of bed on the first day of 2019 and life was hard already. Our circumstances were the same as they were the day before. Nothing had changed while we slept.

What now? How do we live through the storm? How do we keep from drowning in the waves washing over us? Personally, when I am tempted to panic, this is where my thought process goes:

NOTHING has changed between how I lived yesterday and how I live today.

Our circumstances change, yes, but how we respond does not.

Each day we walk with God and then go to bed.

Walking with God isn’t a piece of cake, so we can be tempted to quit. Always remember, however, that walking without God wrecks havoc. The consequences of our sin far exceed anything we can ever imagine.

Just ask Adam and Eve.

Walking with God, however far exceeds anything we can ever imagine.

Just ask God Himself.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3: 20, 21)

So you see that phrase, “according to his power that is at work within us”? There it is.

We can’t be magnificent but He can be magnificent through us.

This is accomplished by keeping our hearts clean so He has the room.

• Surrender: Lord, I want to do what you want me to do. I want to obey you, not my own desires.
• Forgiveness: Lord, I forgive everyone of everything because you forgave me.
• Confess: Lord, I confess _____________. Thank you for forgiving me.

Just emptying our heart of clutter is not enough, however.

Once emptied, what do we then invite? We want truth. The Holy Spirit, who lives inside every believer, brings God’s Word to mind as needed. Therefore, we need to make sure we are reading, praying and learning about the Bible so the Spirit has all the more truth to bring to mind as we need it.

Pull me into my destiny.

I have invited God into 2019 with Ephesians 2:10 in mind: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. I don’t want to miss the good purposes for which I was created and I am not pretending to know what those are. I feel a bit stuck and trapped, but that’s not true. God can reach through the clouds any time He wishes, so to speak, and orchestrate things for His glory. I have asked Him to pull me into my destiny if I am missing something.

I want Him to intervene if something about my life is less than that for which I was created.

I get a little afraid of praying that sometimes, do you? Whenever I get afraid of inviting Him into anything and everything, I remember that His love is perfect. He can’t make a mistake with us.

People make mistakes with us every day, but not God.

In the spirit of Hillsong United’s song, Oceans, let’s pray for faith without borders.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the  presence of my Savior.

Let’s keep our hearts clean in 2019, and invite His Word and Spirit to fill our hearts. When we live “safe” lives that don’t invite Him in, we are simply be known as nice people. Our lives will be explainable.

I don’t want my life to be explainable.

I want to live a life that demonstrates God is with me. I want to live a life that lets me experience God is with me.

Want to live like that with me? Consider this prayer.

Holy Father, thank you for creating me for good purposes. Thank you that my life can count for things that last forever. I don’t have the ability or strength to pull that off, so You have to do that for me and through me. I invite you to do that because you are my safety and your love for me is perfect. I do not need to be afraid. May the world see your magnificence through my life. Make me unexplainable…but God. May all of Your children pray this way so we are the light of the world as You purposed us to be.

Picture Explanation: My family was gifted with time in a condo on the beach. Unbelievable. The first day was stormy. How appropriate.

© 2019 by Oaks Ministries. All rights reserved.