I recieved..
I recieved a request today to repost this post..
Worshipping Him Still In This Storm… Winter 2007
It’s easy to worship God, when everything is going our way. It’s easy to praise God for new jobs, health, possessions, good friends and family. What about when things don’t go so well? There are those people that would say that it’s a faith issue. Job’s friends thought so. Job’s friends told Job to confess the sin he was hiding, so that God would bless him again.
What kind of faith does it require to praise God in just the good times?
If there ever were a test of our faith…If there ever were a test of our motives of worship—it is when a storm rolls into our life. Sometimes God calms the storms, but sometimes He chooses to ride along with us.
What does it mean to praise God in THIS storm? This storm suggests that we are going through it right now. It’s easy to say that I will praise God in THE storm, because we are going through the storm, but the word THIS says, at least to me, that we are going through the storm at the current time and that I can praise God during the storm.
One of my favorite verses from years ago in youth group, comes from Romans 8:28. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
To be real honest, it sure doesn’t seem that way when you are in the middle of a storm. It’s difficult at best to get your bearings in the middle of a storm.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever, you face trials of many kinds…”
Whoa…We should consider trials a joy? Why ?
“Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…”
Trials and testing and the storms of life are not evidence of our lack of faith, but evidence that our faith is there and needs refining.
Perseverance through the storm increases our faith. And strengthens it. I like the words James uses here. James in effect is saying that without trials we can never become mature believers. We can never become complete in our faith. Without the storms our faith, we will be short of strength and faith.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is the shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
We must remember God is God !
Posted on March 5, 2008, in christian lives, faith, Friends, Life, ministry, religion, Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
Every time I read your blog it says just what is in my heart or speaks to my heart. My husband and I are right now in the midst of a storm; literally b/c it is storming tonight in NC, and spiritually, even yesterday feeling like we were in the eye of it. The silence is deafening. We are preparing to go to Europe to plant churches, and the spiritual battle has been fierce these past few years, but God has used people like you to keep me encouraged realizing all of us have storms, and God has a purpose for the storms. Thank you for sharing you heart and your gift of words.
So I guess I am on the opposite of this idea. It is easy for me to worship God in the mist of a storm because I see no other way out of it. But when things are easy or good I am like la-de-da and get lost in all the distractions that I totally forget to persue Him in firm prayer and scripture meditation. I am so lazy when it is going good. But when we are in trials, I am usually seeking His face and searching the scriptures for His answers and His leadership.
In other news…how are you feeling? I was reminded of you the other day and your prayers. You are rad.
Even in the storm, God is still God, and it doesn’t change a thing about HIM! Is that so totally cool!??!! Always the same and always worthy of our praise. I like to think that when HE chooses to not calm the storm, HE wants me inside HIS robe walking so close I can hear HIS heart beat, and although I can hear the storm raging, I am safe and warm and HE wants to show me how HE will walk me through it to the other side, a different demostration of HIS strength and love.