SCRIPTURE: Acts 27:27-38
“After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all.” (Acts 27:35)
When is the last time you gave thanks in the middle of a crisis?
During that crisis, were you calm, trusting in God, leaving things in His hands?
Which do you think is more helpful: giving thanks, or worrying or whining?
Paul is confident that he and his shipmates will survive.
It reminds me of a pastor in Columbia in the 90s, speaking up against the drug lords at the time.
When his wife cautioned him, warning him of the harm they could do to him, he was not deterred.
‘I am absolutely immortal here, until my purpose from God is fulfilled.’
His focus was on God, not himself.
He was not being foolish or breaking the law; but he stood up for his oppressed parishioners.
He was thankful for his life and purpose, and living it well for God, without fear.
A few years later he did die, at the hands of a drug lord, but his death was not in vain.
God used him – and later his wife – to help change things in his communicate.
His focus was on God, on God’s blessings, on God’s purpose.
This is not a call to recklessness or foolishness.
But it is a call to slow down, focus on God, and thanks Him for what He is doing.
You’ll be surprised to discover He’s up to a lot more that you realize.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, help me to start focusing on You and thanking You now, so that when a time of crisis comes, I know what to do!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
This is so hard to do though to give thanks during a crisis. Especially when the fear tends to feel so real. Even with that Pastor trusting God in that particular crisis, I can’t help but wonder if he was shaken still. After the storm however there appears to always be a rainbow somewhere in the clouds even if we can’t see it.
Observations/Application
Calm in the storm.
14 days wind driven.
14 days of anxiety.
14 days of fear.
Yet Paul trusted the Lord and the soldiers were inspired by him also and took him at his word.
A living witness, an epistle, being an example to those around him. Calm in the storm influencing others. Do as I do. Word and deed together. Staying anchored on the Rock in all circumstances causing others to do the same.
I have journeyed
Through the long, dark night
Out on the open sea
By faith alone
Sight unknown
And yet His eyes were watching me
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm
I’ve had visions
I’ve had dreams
I’ve even held them in my hand
But I never knew
They would slip right through
Like they were only grains of sand
The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm
I have been young
But I am older now
And there has been beauty
These eyes have seen
But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh, that’s where God proved
His love to me
The anchor holds
Though the ship’s been battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm
I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm