2 February, 2021
💞 Dear Royal Praying Priests, shalom!
💎 “Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.” (Acts 27:29)
The heroes in our history are those who overcome the greatest challenges or storms of life. While most people like to be heroes, we easily get upset when a storm comes our way! Last week from Paul’s voyage to Rome, we learned to rely on God solely when the storms of life hit us unexpectedly. Our ultimate hope always comes from the LORD, not from the experts, the crowd or the circumstances. Today let us continue the story.
After a gentle southerly breeze coming up, the crew raised the anchor, thinking it would be smooth sailing. (v.13) But before long, the hurricane-force wind called “the Northeaster” struck and they lost all control of the ship. They gave away to the wind and were driven along. (v.15) Next day, as they were violently battered by the storm, they began throwing cargo overboard. (v.18). The third day, the sailors lightened the ship further by throwing off all the ship’s gear. (v.19) Winds and waves were battering them unmercifully, and eventually they also “threw away” their hope of rescue! (v.20) In the midst of a storm, let us focus our eyes on God, and hold on to our purposes and calling tightly. Do not drift, do not drop, and do not despair!
While the crew were in complete distress and lost their appetite for food, Apostle Paul however was at ease because of God’s presence, purposes and promises! An angel of God was sent to deliver a message when there seems to be no way and no hope. (v.23-24) Any storm would never hide our God. We may not be able to see God in the storms, but He always sees us and He never forgets us! On the fourteenth night, the screw threw out four anchors and prayed for daylight. (v.29) This was the first mention of prayer in the entire story! Even if the circumstances may not seem getting better immediately right after the prayer, God is actually sending His rescue on our way! With dawn about to break, they ran the ship aground and shipwrecked, and eventually everyone reached land safely.
Perhaps today we are facing a different kind of storm of life. Fear not and trust God!
Let us worship Him. Raise a Hallelujah
🙏 Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for teaching us faith lessons from this story. Please help us to remember our purposes and Your promises in the middle of the storm. Even if we cannot see You or feel You when we are experiencing a storm of life, we open our hearts to allow You to show Yourself to us instead of doubting Your love. If the journey seems lasting a bid longer than we could bear, please help us to be patient and not to give up. We choose to trust You and we know that the storms of life will awaken our faith and lift us higher and stronger. In the name of Yeshua we pray and bless You, Amen.