And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "I have sinned this time. The LORD is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the LORD, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." Exodus 9:27-28 (NKJV)
I'm sure that when you hear the word, "Storm" your mind conjures up some visual including wind, rain, and lightning or perhaps even a dousing of snow. And if that is the case, you'd be right - but there are different types of storms that we will face in life, and this devotional series is written with hopes of us being better prepared for them.
Q: What is a Storm?
A: Well, as stated above, it can be heavy rain or snow, strong wind, or violent weather. But that's not all that it represents, as it can be an outburst or feeling, or a sudden strong attack. It is a set of circumstances in our life that bring about the temptation to fear and to be anxious - to be angry, or critical - to doubt and even to run. Storms can be small in size, and they can be very large and even deadly.
There are many forms with which these types of storms manifest themselves. They could be from a broken marriage, a serious illness or disease - they could be caused by crippling accidents, or financial hardships brought on because of unemployment or lost retirement-savings - they could even be caused from the death of someone near to you, and the loneliness that follows.
Even though there are several types of storms, they generally fall into 2-catagories, and they are:
Storms of Correction are those times where we go through trials and tests because we have unconfessed sin in our life - and we are going in a way that is not in the will of God. These storms can be for both believers and non-believers alike. These storms can take on many forms such as drought, famine, plagues, sicknesses, diseases, financial difficulties, etc.
"Storms of Correction" happen when God sovereignly uses various circumstances in the life of the individual to bring them to a conscious awareness that they are not walking on the right path, so that they are able to see the error of their ways. He uses these situations to lead the sinner to the understanding that they need to repent (turn around) and come in agreement with "His" will for their life. For the believer, it should lead them to restoration as they deal with unconfessed sin and become reconciled to God. For the unbeliever, it can lead them to Salvation as they turn from their sin and seek a saving relationship with Jesus.
We see a great example of a "Storm of Correction" in the life of Jonah. God had a plan for Jonah's life and Jonah decided to go in the opposite direction of what God wanted, and as a result, a "Storm of Correction" was brought about in Jonahs life.
But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Jonah 1:4-6,10 (NKJV)
Being caught in the path of a "Tornado" and the destructive damage that it does would not be our desire - so we should always be willing to change our paths as needed to avoid them. In the same way that we should be prepared to change our course for these physical storms that will come our way - we should be equally prepared to change our course for the "Spiritual Storms" that we will face as well - in other words, get out of the path of the inevitable catastrophe by changing our ways of sinful living (examples: alcohol, drugs, pornography, unhealthy relationships, or just simply not abiding in God's Word.)
Even so, there will be times in each of our lives where we, without warning, will face another type of storm, and that is a "Storm of Perfection." In Part II, we will look at what "Storms of Perfection" are, and we will begin to look at some things that each of us needs to know with regards to these storms in our life.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from the scriptures contained within this devotional with regard to the storms contained within them?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Can you see the times in your life where you were not abiding in God, and subsequently things became very chaotic and rough?
APPLICATION: Seek the Lord daily for guidance and the power to do His will. If there is something that you are doing currently that is not in the will of God, then lay it down and ask for forgiveness, and His help to stop doing it.
I'm sure that when you hear the word, "Storm" your mind conjures up some visual including wind, rain, and lightning or perhaps even a dousing of snow. And if that is the case, you'd be right - but there are different types of storms that we will face in life, and this devotional series is written with hopes of us being better prepared for them.
Q: What is a Storm?
A: Well, as stated above, it can be heavy rain or snow, strong wind, or violent weather. But that's not all that it represents, as it can be an outburst or feeling, or a sudden strong attack. It is a set of circumstances in our life that bring about the temptation to fear and to be anxious - to be angry, or critical - to doubt and even to run. Storms can be small in size, and they can be very large and even deadly.
There are many forms with which these types of storms manifest themselves. They could be from a broken marriage, a serious illness or disease - they could be caused by crippling accidents, or financial hardships brought on because of unemployment or lost retirement-savings - they could even be caused from the death of someone near to you, and the loneliness that follows.
Even though there are several types of storms, they generally fall into 2-catagories, and they are:
- Storms of Correction
- Storms of Perfection
Storms of Correction are those times where we go through trials and tests because we have unconfessed sin in our life - and we are going in a way that is not in the will of God. These storms can be for both believers and non-believers alike. These storms can take on many forms such as drought, famine, plagues, sicknesses, diseases, financial difficulties, etc.
"Storms of Correction" happen when God sovereignly uses various circumstances in the life of the individual to bring them to a conscious awareness that they are not walking on the right path, so that they are able to see the error of their ways. He uses these situations to lead the sinner to the understanding that they need to repent (turn around) and come in agreement with "His" will for their life. For the believer, it should lead them to restoration as they deal with unconfessed sin and become reconciled to God. For the unbeliever, it can lead them to Salvation as they turn from their sin and seek a saving relationship with Jesus.
We see a great example of a "Storm of Correction" in the life of Jonah. God had a plan for Jonah's life and Jonah decided to go in the opposite direction of what God wanted, and as a result, a "Storm of Correction" was brought about in Jonahs life.
But the LORD sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up. Then the mariners were afraid; and every man cried out to his god, and threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten the load. But Jonah had gone down into the lowest parts of the ship, had lain down, and was fast asleep. So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, "Why have you done this?" For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Jonah 1:4-6,10 (NKJV)
Being caught in the path of a "Tornado" and the destructive damage that it does would not be our desire - so we should always be willing to change our paths as needed to avoid them. In the same way that we should be prepared to change our course for these physical storms that will come our way - we should be equally prepared to change our course for the "Spiritual Storms" that we will face as well - in other words, get out of the path of the inevitable catastrophe by changing our ways of sinful living (examples: alcohol, drugs, pornography, unhealthy relationships, or just simply not abiding in God's Word.)
Even so, there will be times in each of our lives where we, without warning, will face another type of storm, and that is a "Storm of Perfection." In Part II, we will look at what "Storms of Perfection" are, and we will begin to look at some things that each of us needs to know with regards to these storms in our life.
STUDY QUESTION: What can we learn from the scriptures contained within this devotional with regard to the storms contained within them?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Can you see the times in your life where you were not abiding in God, and subsequently things became very chaotic and rough?
APPLICATION: Seek the Lord daily for guidance and the power to do His will. If there is something that you are doing currently that is not in the will of God, then lay it down and ask for forgiveness, and His help to stop doing it.
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