Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
I read this quote today and thought about Jesus.
We all want to walk like Jesus walked and see the same types of miracles in our ministry or in our lives. I believe we can do what Jesus did, the Bible tells us so. That being said, I believe we must first do what Jesus did before the miracles and do what Jesus did in the midst of challenging times in His life.
What am I talking about? I am talking about His prayer life.
Luke 5:16 says; He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 6:12 says; Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
We know Jesus had a strong prayer life, the fruit of that prayer life is evident throughout His life on earth.
However, today I want to talk about what Jesus did when His emotions were challenged. I am referring to when He heard about John the Baptist and how He was beheaded.
Matthew 14:13 says; When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
The Bible says when He heard the news, He went off by Himself to a secluded place.
John was not just another minister to Jesus, He was His cousin, they had grown up together. Jesus LOVED John and highly respected Him. He honored John and the work He was doing on this earth, preparing the way of the Lord. Because Jesus loved John, I am sure He was devastated when He heard the news. I believe He had to get alone with the Father to keep His mind upon God.
The Bible says, ‘I will keep you in perfect peace, when your mind is stayed upon me.’
Jesus didn’t protest or cry out against those who killed John, He instead, went to a secluded place to gather His thoughts, to grieve privately and to make sure His focus remained on what God had sent Him here to do.
Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests. It is the tough times in life that often define us, especially when it comes to our faith.
It is those times when we must say ‘I have prayed and prayed and I am not seeing the answer, where is my God?’ It is those times we must, get alone with God, and make sure our focus stays on the ONLY one who can bring the answer.
Jesus is our example here. The Bible says He was tempted in ALL things, just as we are…you must know He was hurting that day. But He didn’t allow that hurt to get into Him, He got alone with God and the next thing we see Him doing is, once again, miracles, signs and wonders. How could He do that moments after His beloved cousin was killed…only by getting alone with God. Only by continuing to trust God and His plan.
We all have storms in our life, the goal is to learn to fly during those storms, unhindered by what is going on around us. To keep our eyes fully on God in the midst of it. To give Him our heart, our hurts, our disappointment and keep moving forward. I know it is easier to write it or say it than it is to do it…I know that full well. But I also know, if we don’t keep our eyes on God during a storm, the storm can devastate us, and that is NOT God’s plan for any of us.
Today, if you are in the midst of a challenge, do like Jesus did, get alone with God. Stay in that solitary place in God UNTIL you have your focus totally on Him and His word. Stay until a faith that is unhindered arises in you. Stay until you can walk out of that place and continue your walk in God in peace.
Where do you go when tragedy hits? Where do you go when disappointment comes? Where do you go when you don’t know what to do next? Go to God. Get alone with Him and allow Him to comfort you, to heal you and to empower you to keep walking in faith. Faithful is He who called you, He will complete what He has begun in you, never doubt it. Your God, my God…is a faithful God.
Prayer for today: Father, we thank You for Your faithfulness to us. Help us to always keep our focus and our heart set upon You God. You are a good good Father and we put our trust in You, today and always, in Jesus name. Amen.
