The Upper Room Daily Devotionals in Nashville, Tennessee, United States "Storms of Life" for Saturday, 21 January 2017 with Scripture Psalm 55:4 (3) at how the enemy shouts,
at how the wicked oppress;
for they keep heaping trouble on me
and angrily tormenting me.
5 (4) My heart within me is pounding in anguish,
the terrors of death press down on me,
6 (5) fear and trembling overwhelm me,
horror covers me.
7 (6) I said, “I wish I had wings like a dove!
Then I could fly away and be at rest.
8 (7) Yes, I would flee to a place far off,
I would stay in the desert. (Selah)
9 (8) I would quickly find me a shelter
from the raging wind and storm.”
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Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.[Psalm 55:22 (NIV)]
The day was stormy. Lightning flashed all around. The wind howled, the rain fell, and tornadoes threatened. At the radio station in Athens, Georgia, where I worked during college, the owner of the station concluded his morning newscast as usual with, “It’s a lovely day to be in Athens.” Afterward, I met him in the hallway and kidded him about the current state of the weather. I asked, “How can today be a lovely day to be in Athens?” He put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Son, during World War II, I was a bomber pilot. Early in the war, my plane was shot down; and I spent the rest of my time in a prisoner-of-war camp. After that ordeal, I promised that if I made it home, I would not let anything ruin my day. Every day I’m here is a lovely day to be in Athens.”
I have thought about his words often over the years. I realized that as we face the storms in our lives, we tend to lose sight of the comfort we know simply by living in God’s love. Too often we forget about the blessings, mercy, grace, and love of God; and we focus on whatever storm is at hand. We forget to put our trust in the Lord. Today, when facing the storms of life, I remember the words of the station owner, and I am thankful that God is present to calm the raging storms of my life.
Read more from the author, here.
"More from Larry Wayne"
Human nature causes us to focus on the storm we face in our life. I learned from the mentor that I mention in today's meditation that God is in control and that we should always remain faithful and thankful for God's love and grace.
Last year our church developed an Advent book where members of the congregation wrote something about what Advent meant to them. My day was December 16, the week we light the candle of Joy. I recalled in my writing a time 44 years past when I was introduced to my wife. I reflected that at that very moment in my life I really needed to read and heed the words of Jeremiah 29:11. I certainly did not consider the message of Jeremiah nor of Hebrews 11:1 at that time: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Since then the two of us have faced many storms in our life. Often in the midst of this turmoil we found ourselves afraid, much like the disciples caught in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. We thought the future was hopeless. But just as Jesus did during the storm, our Lord "rebuked the wind and the raging water; the storm subsided" (Matthew 8:26). As we have grown in our faith we have learned to trust God and in doing so we find peace and grace even during the most distressing of times. We are comforted by God's promise found in Psalm 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me." We are certainly blessed.[Larry Wayne]
The Author: Larry Wayne (Tennessee, USA)
Thought for the Day: Storms come and go, but God’s love is unchanging.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for looking after us and loving us during the storms of life. Amen.
Prayer focus: Radio broadcasters
at how the wicked oppress;
for they keep heaping trouble on me
and angrily tormenting me.
5 (4) My heart within me is pounding in anguish,
the terrors of death press down on me,
6 (5) fear and trembling overwhelm me,
horror covers me.
7 (6) I said, “I wish I had wings like a dove!
Then I could fly away and be at rest.
8 (7) Yes, I would flee to a place far off,
I would stay in the desert. (Selah)
9 (8) I would quickly find me a shelter
from the raging wind and storm.”
-------
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.[Psalm 55:22 (NIV)]
The day was stormy. Lightning flashed all around. The wind howled, the rain fell, and tornadoes threatened. At the radio station in Athens, Georgia, where I worked during college, the owner of the station concluded his morning newscast as usual with, “It’s a lovely day to be in Athens.” Afterward, I met him in the hallway and kidded him about the current state of the weather. I asked, “How can today be a lovely day to be in Athens?” He put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Son, during World War II, I was a bomber pilot. Early in the war, my plane was shot down; and I spent the rest of my time in a prisoner-of-war camp. After that ordeal, I promised that if I made it home, I would not let anything ruin my day. Every day I’m here is a lovely day to be in Athens.”
I have thought about his words often over the years. I realized that as we face the storms in our lives, we tend to lose sight of the comfort we know simply by living in God’s love. Too often we forget about the blessings, mercy, grace, and love of God; and we focus on whatever storm is at hand. We forget to put our trust in the Lord. Today, when facing the storms of life, I remember the words of the station owner, and I am thankful that God is present to calm the raging storms of my life.
Read more from the author, here.
"More from Larry Wayne"
Human nature causes us to focus on the storm we face in our life. I learned from the mentor that I mention in today's meditation that God is in control and that we should always remain faithful and thankful for God's love and grace.
Last year our church developed an Advent book where members of the congregation wrote something about what Advent meant to them. My day was December 16, the week we light the candle of Joy. I recalled in my writing a time 44 years past when I was introduced to my wife. I reflected that at that very moment in my life I really needed to read and heed the words of Jeremiah 29:11. I certainly did not consider the message of Jeremiah nor of Hebrews 11:1 at that time: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Since then the two of us have faced many storms in our life. Often in the midst of this turmoil we found ourselves afraid, much like the disciples caught in the storm on the Sea of Galilee. We thought the future was hopeless. But just as Jesus did during the storm, our Lord "rebuked the wind and the raging water; the storm subsided" (Matthew 8:26). As we have grown in our faith we have learned to trust God and in doing so we find peace and grace even during the most distressing of times. We are comforted by God's promise found in Psalm 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for you are with me." We are certainly blessed.[Larry Wayne]
The Author: Larry Wayne (Tennessee, USA)
Thought for the Day: Storms come and go, but God’s love is unchanging.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for looking after us and loving us during the storms of life. Amen.
Prayer focus: Radio broadcasters
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