We can speak peace to the storm. How do I know this? Because that is where God has brought me in the midst of the storm. Peace is a powerful tool!! When you are at peace you are in a position of power!!!
As born again children of God, we become the ultimate peacemakers under the anointing of the Holy Spirit to speak peace into every situation.
Jesus modeled this when he spoke to the storm. An account of this is found in Mark 4:35-41
On the same day when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. Other little boats were also with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat against the boat so that it was already filling. However, he was in the stern asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Then he arose and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace be still!” and the wind ceased and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” They were terrified and said, “Who can this be that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
When Jesus said to the disciples “Let us cross over to the other side,” he expected them to believe it would happen if he said it would.
He is saying the same thing to us: although there is a storm raging with the coronavirus, Jesus is saying we will get to the other side!!
When the waves were raging around them, fear rose up in the disciples, but Jesus remained calm and at peace, and he spoke to the storm!!!
In the midst of the storm, Jesus has a powerful solution for us. We can speak peace to the storm.
In the middle of the storm Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, he said: “Peace be still!” Because Christ is the greater one who lives in us, we can take authority in the same way.
When we speak to the storm, we stand in faith God will take us to the other side.
It’s faith that overrides our fear. How do I know that? Because that is what I am experiencing!
Faith comes from hearing the word of God, however not just hearing it but applying it to our lives.
There is a scripture that is very helpful — it is one that I know well because quite frankly I have a tendency to worry. That scripture is Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God, and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus.”
Do not be anxious about anything… So when an anxious thought comes to my mind — a sudden fear of this virus, and the many it could affect, and the faces of my loved ones flood my mind — and as I feel anxiety flood my soul, I say NO! I take those thoughts captive, and I cast them out of my mind because I know what to do… but in everything with prayer and thanksgiving present your requests to God… and I immediately start to pray for them. One by one I lift them up to my Lord and ask for his protection, and as I pray God keeps putting people on my heart to pray for and other concerns I may have. And one by one I bring my requests to him and thank him again and again for all the blessings in my life, and as I pray, peace fills my soul ….the peace of God which transcends all understanding guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
And as I pray, I begin to pray for myself a prayer that I’ve been praying lately, a prayer that King David prayed… “Lord give me an undivided heart.” I confidently look to God for a heart that is undivided… a heart not filled with fear but filled with faith… a heart that doesn’t try to do it on my own but runs to God… an undivided heart that finds refuge in the shelter of my God, knowing he will never leave me or forsake me… an undivided heart that sits at the feet of Jesus and weeps tears of gratitude and pure joy as his love saturates my soul while God whispers to me “you are my child and I am well pleased with you.”
And as I rise up from my knees, I am filled with confidence knowing that I, Dottie Flanagan, a child of the Most High God, can speak to the storm.
And I SPEAK “God did not give me a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
In Mark 11:23 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in their heart, but believes what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”
SO I SPEAK “GO!!!!” to that mountain of coronavirus be cast into the sea… and I do not doubt in my heart, because I confidently pray to my Heavenly Father “Give me an undivided heart.”
As I pray I am filled with faith.
Because I know.
In the middle of the storm, Jesus arose and rebuked the wind. He said, “Peace be still!”
Because Christ, the greater one, lives in me, I can take authority in the same way.
And so can you!!
We SPEAK to the storm!!!
We stand in faith!!!
Knowing — God will take us to the other side.