"Faith grows amid storms"   -- just four words, but oh, how full of import to the soul who has been in the storms!    

Faith is that God-given faculty which, when exercised, brings the unseen into plain view, and by which the impossible things are made possible. It deals with supernaturals. But it "grows amid storms"; that is, where there are disturbances in the spiritual atmosphere. Storms are caused by the conflicts of elements; and the storms of the spiritual world are conflicts with hostile elements. In such an atmosphere faith finds its most productive soil; in such an element it comes more quickly to full fruition.

The staunchest tree is not found in the shelter of the forest, but out in the open where the winds from every quarter beat upon it, and bend and twist it until it becomes a giant in stature this is the tree which the mechanic wants his tools made of, and the wagon-maker seeks.

So in the spiritual world, when you see a giant, remember the road you must travel to come up to his side is not along the sunny lane where wild flowers ever bloom; but a steep, rocky, narrow pathway where the blasts of hell will almost blow you off your feet; where the sharp rocks cut the flesh, where the projecting thorns scratch the brow, and the venomous beasts hiss on every side.

It is a pathway of sorrow and joy, of suffering and healing balm, of tears and smiles, of trials and victories, of conflicts and triumphs, of hardships and perils and buffetings, of persecutions and misunderstandings, of troubles and distress; through all of which we are made more than conquerors through Him who loves us.

"Amid storms." Right in the midst where it is fiercest. You may shrink back from the ordeal of a fierce storm of trial…but go in! God is there to meet you in the center of all your trials, and to whisper His secrets which will make you come forth with a shining face and an indomitable faith that all the demons of hell shall never afterwards cause to waver.
--E. A. Kilbourne

In God’s Hands  

By Greg Laurie    

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 NLT)

I always laugh when I hear people say, “When I get to Heaven, I have a few questions I want to ask God.” In all fairness, there are questions in life: Why did God allow this tragedy? Why did He allow that to happen?

But I believe that one second after we get to Heaven, we won’t care about those questions anymore. We will see God for who He is, and everything else will come into its proper focus.

Right now, our understanding is limited; it is very finite. God’s wisdom, however, is incredibly infinite and great. The Bible says, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely” (1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT).

Heaven will be greater than anything we’ve ever imagined. We can take the most wonderful thing we’ve ever experienced in life, multiply it a million times, and we’ll get just a glimpse of what Heaven will be like. And the good news is that it will last forever and ever.

With this in mind, let’s think about what we’re really afraid of. Let’s take the most frightening scenario imaginable. What is it? The worst scenario isn’t dying. The worst scenario is dying without Jesus. That is the worst scenario. That is the sum of all fears.

Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28 NLT). If you are trusting in Christ, don’t be afraid. To live is Christ and to die is gain. Our lives are in God’s hands.

Copyright © 2017 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

A Prayer to Follow God’s Calling  
By Lisa Morrone    

Friend to Friend

Long ago, in a faraway land…well, actually, it was back in 2006 in the den of my home on Long Island, NY…a calling was heard: “It’s time to write.” Excuse me, Lord, are you speaking to me?

What was I to do with that directive? I guess there were three options: 1-shake it off and go on with my life as is, chalking it up to a random, self-directed thought, 2-stall on it—put it on a shelf until a more “appropriate time,” or 3-put voice to it; tell my husband and a few trusted friends who would hold me accountable and then run, head first, into the great unknown (to myself) world of writing.

I don’t know about you, but I never considered writing as a direction for my life’s energies. First of all, my father, who had a masters degree in literature, told me throughout my formative years that I was an awful writer. Second, writing wasn’t how I expressed myself. I am a verbal girl through and through—one of my teachers once said I had verbal diarrhea! Seriously, I don’t even journal. Anyhow, you get the picture. Writing was never on my radar.

I imagine the same was true for the first four disciples that Jesus called. They were hard working fisherman. Fish, boats, and nets were their world. But leaving everything to become a fisher of men? What was that all about?

Reading through the Gospel of Mark I was recently struck anew with the lack of hesitation Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John showed in responding to Jesus’ call to follow him. The text states that they immediately left what they were doing and struck out on a new, unknown course. Did they even know what Jesus had planned for them? What it would cost them? Where it would lead them?

Given my personal dilemma above, I chose (with great trepidation) “door #3,” responding “Yes” to Jesus’ call for me to begin writing. Truthfully, this response was not natural, but rather a cultivated behavior, preceded by many failures—flat out “No’s” and a great deal of “Okay, but laters.” With six, published books, hundreds of Monday Morning Health Tips and articles, and a bunch of GIG Bible devotionalswritten to date, I am so thankful that I responded, “Yes, Lord, use even me.” His will has been accomplished and His name has been glorified!

Maybe you are struggling with the same feelings I had: fear of following and fear of failure, unwillingness to let go of certain things/lifestyles in order to follow, and the knowledge that I’d be functioning outside of my perceived skill set. If so, I would encourage you today,with your eyes trained on Jesus and with your ears attentive to His call, to STOP, DROP, AND RUN...towards His calling!

Jesus accomplished some of His greatest work through a group of men who were completely unqualified for their calling. I promise, He can, and will, do the same through you.

Let’s Pray

Jesus, I am humbled that You consider me worthy to be used—in ways big and small—to accomplish Your will here on earth. Help me respond without hesitation whenever I perceive Your voice calling me into action.

In Your powerful and equipping Name, I pray,

Amen.

A Morning Prayer to Follow God Today    

Dear Lord, I don't know who or what will cross my path today. But I do know that You are my Rock and my Fortress. You are my Shield and my Strong Tower. Help me to anchor myself to You today. Teach me how to stand strong in You and choose only Your way today. Help me walk by Your truth and not my feelings. Help me to embrace anything that comes my way as an opportunity to see You at work and as an opportunity to point others to You. Thank You that You love me and nothing can ever take that away from me! Even if I fail today and fall short, You whisper Your unconditional love deep into my soul and remind me that Your mercies are new every morning. That truly amazes me, Lord. Thank You for meeting with me today. Would You wake me again tomorrow with the same sweet whisper of Your love? I can't wait to meet with You again. In Jesus' Name, Amen. - Wendy Blight, Encouragement for Today, Proverbs 31 Ministries