When Following God Makes No Sense

Ever feel like following God only makes life harder ?

In Mark 4:35, Jesus ask his disciples to take a ride with him on the Sea of Galilee. However, this boat ride with Jesus is anything but  smooth sailing. Mark records that “a great windstorm arose” on the sea. Matthew calls this storm a “great tempest”, or “seismos” in the original Greek- the same root word for the English “seismology”, the study of earthquakes. This storm was not just an ordinary rain shower. Instead, it was such a fierce and powerful storm that the disciples, many of whom were experienced fisherman, started to fear for their lives and begged the sleeping Savior to save them from the storm.  

Sometime we think that reading the Bible more or serving at church guarantee’s that God is going to bless everything we do. We say to ourselves, “surely God see’s how much I’m trying to following him, so I know everything will be great.” While the Lord does ultimately bless our obedience, there may be occasional storms along the way- storms that are so fierce that make us wonder if God is even paying attention.

If you're in a storm right now, know this - Jesus is right alongside you, in the boat, and will make sure you get to the other side. There’s no need to be fearful or doubt whether the Lord knows what is going on - the same Savior who paid your debt on the cross will also prepare a way thru the storm. 

-Dennis J. 

Pray!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“… pray without ceasing… for this is the will of God”

          I wrote this devotion three years ago before going on my first missions trip ever.  It was included in the journals for all the CCA 8th grade students who went on the Bahamas missions trip.  I was just looking back at it and thinking that it was a great reminder (not too well written, but a good reminder) to pray.  I can get so caught up in the busyness of doing ministry and life that I just forget to pray, or convince myself that I don't have time.  So I hope this speaks to you as well and you enjoy it! 

            "Whenever there is someone that I want to talk to, all I do is pick up my phone and call them.  Maybe I had a bad day and just want to talk to my Dad and vent about it; I pick up my phone and call him.  Maybe I’m on a vacation and I miss my Mom and just want to hear her voice.  All I have to do is pick up my phone and call her and I get to talk to her.  But what if I want to speak to God?  I can’t really pick up my phone and call Him; my phone doesn’t have long distance coverage to Heaven.  There is something even easier than using a phone to call Him and that is prayer.  Prayer is one of the most important, essential things we do as Christians.  It’s as important as breathing is to living.  We are told in the Bible to pray without ceasing because this is God’s will for our lives (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). 

            
             Prayer is the communication we use to hear from and speak to the Almighty God.  In Ephesians 6:18, the Apostle Paul is teaching us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”  Paul is telling us that we need to pray at all times, on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests for the saints.  This is very similar to when Jesus “spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” (Luke 18:1).  Prayer is not an option in the Christian life.  It’s a privilege, it’s an adventure and most importantly, it’s a commandment.  So instead of spending all that time on the phone talking and texting, why not just call God and have an amazing conversation?"

-Sean Fryer