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Monday, August 14, 2017

The Rising of the Waters

We have discussed so many things this year...from God's love, grace, and mercy to the strength He gives us when we are weak.  We have discussed worry and anxiety and how we learn to deal with those things.  But one thing we haven't discussed is stress and the feeling of being overwhelmed.  

Over the weekend, parts of Texas saw more than 9 inches of rain in just a few hours.  Streets flooded and became impassable.  Yards became so saturated that water began to stand.  The wind blew hard enough to down tree limbs in many places.  Lightening struck homes.  The storms swirled and unleashed their devastation on the land.  I began thinking about how our lives can look like this at times.  How many times do we look around us and think we are drowing in all that is going on?  Sometimes our focus is so centered on the storm and the damage and destruction that it brings that we forget about the sanctuary we have.  (Isaiah 25:4)

Becoming overwhelmed is a sensation we all know and I personally am very familiar with.  Sometimes that feeling is one we make ourselves.  We commit to many different things that come due all at once and the pressure begins to mount and we feel as though the water is rising and we are unable to complete anything we have committed to.  As we lose sight of our shelter from the storm, we move away from the protective covering of our God.  Once we have done that it feels as though the enemy strikes out at every turn.  We often contribute our own creation of our problems to the enemy, when we really we have created the situation, Satan just uses it to tear us down and keep us in turmoil.  

We can feel like the roads in our lives have been flooded.  We can't pass through for fear of being swept away.  We might even feel as though we ourselves are drowning in the situation and are being overwhelmed with rising waters.  It is a terrifying and hopeless place to be if we don't keep our eyes trained on the One who is our salvation.  We can forget in these times that our God is the Redeemer of Israel.  Our God is the One who led an entire people, millions, out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.  Our God is the One that gave Joshua victory at each battle; He delivered Daniel from the Lion's Den.  Our God delivered the Philistine Giant's Champion warrior into the hands of a shepherd boy.  Would our God do any less for us?  He is the same God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  He is the same God that said:

Isaiah 43:1-2  But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. (2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, no shall the flame scorch you." 

We are His.  Verse 1 above says He has called us by our name and we are His.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  He is not going to change His mind about whether we belong to Him or not.  More importantly, He promises that whatever weapons are formed against us will not succeed.  

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgement you shall condemn.  This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me," says the Lord. 

There is no weapon that the enemy can use against us that can prosper.  Those who speak against shall be condemned.  This is our heritage...our birthright.  So, why do we let the enemy so easily overwhelm us?  Why do we put ourselves in the position of rising waters?  He is our shelter and our refuge.  He is the Redeemer of Israel.  He does not change.  We are His and He calls us by name. 

When you begin to feel overwhelmed, just remember Who your Redeemer is.  Just remember what He has done for His people in the past.  He is the same God.  He will not leave you, forsake you or abandon you.  He will not let the waters and rivers overtake you.  Let your focus remain on Him and what He has done.  Let your focus remain on the One who deliver you from the storm.  But don't create your own flood.  Don't over commit to so many things you can't deliver what you have committed to.  Be wise in your commitments and good steward of your time.  Don't set yourself up failure and give the enemy the tools he needs to attack.  Be confident in the One who holds you in His hand.

Father, as we go through this week, send your Holy Spirit to help us keep our eyes focused and trained on you, not the storm around us.  Thank You for Your never changing love and faithfulness.  Let us walk through this week bringing You all the glory and honor.  In the name of Jesus, amen.

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