Prayer Focus for the week of August 17th

[T.W.U.D. Online Prayer Ministry]

Bishop-Elect T. Anthony Bronner, Senior Pastor
August 17, 2008 – August 23, 2008

PRAYER FOCUS

Peace, Be Still

Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of the former presidential candidate, John
Edwards, is currently living with the publicizing of her husband's
affair. Her response, in essence, was you must know what to do when
life blows you off course. She further said you can't lose focus of
the main thing, and it seems the main thing for her is to keep her
family in tact. She appears to be willing to weather the storm for the
main thing.

Well, what do we do when storms arise in our lives? Are we aware of
our main thing? Is our main thing worth the weathering of the storm?
Are we willing to endure the opinions of the public court? Do we have
what it takes to hang in there until things get better? Can we trust
God until God intervenes?

Interestingly, Jesus was demonstrating this in the gospel of Mark,
chapter four. Jesus articulated the main thing to the disciples when
He said, "let us pass over to the other side" (Mark 4:35). Getting to
the other side was the goal, the purpose, of their voyage. Their
destiny was on the other side. On the other side, an aspect of their
lives would be fulfilled. However, on their way to the other side a
storm arose to blow them off course. The wind was violent, the waves
beat against the ship, and water began to enter the vessel. This
transitional atmosphere provoked fear and panic. Maybe, this was the
type of storm Mrs. Edwards was referring to: a storm that can take
your breath away and challenge your main thing.

Storms make you wonder if you should love again after being betrayed.
Should you dream again after your business goes bankrupt? Should you
keep fighting for justice when there seems to be so much injustice?
The disciples were losing focus of the main thing, which was getting
to the other side. They began to ask Jesus (who, by the way, was
asleep during the storm), “do you care if we perish?”

What a strange question to ask God. God is the author of life, and the
One who says, “Cast your cares upon me because I care for you” (1
Peter 5:7). But as we know storms can aggravate us and stir up some
unsettling emotions. If we are not careful storms can produce
unwarranted behavior and panic stricken conversation and questions.

Nonetheless, Jesus illustrated two important points. One, when
traveling with Him we can maintain a degree of peace. He is the master
over the storms that try to blow us off course. Jesus told the sea to
be at peace, be still (see Mark 4:39). And whenever the Lord speaks
peace there is peace. Two, Jesus never lost focus of the main thing.
If God says we are going to the other side, then no storm can stop us.

Therefore, let's follow and trust the Savior who calms storms and
assures us that we are going to get to the other side. Also, while we
are praying for our strength to handle the winds that try to blow us
off course, remember to say a prayer for the Edwards family.

PRAYER

Lord we praise and bless your name, and you are worthy to be adored.
When we think of your love for us we are amazed. Your love is deep,
wide, great. You loved us when we did not love ourselves (see Romans
5). When we were chasing our own needs and desires you still saved us
(see Ephesians 2). Wow, what manner of love?
Not only do you love us, but you care for us (1 Peter 5:7). You care
if we perish, and you care when storms try to blow us off course (see
Mark 4). You intervene when life overwhelms us. As a matter of fact,
you lead us to a rock that is higher than we (Psalm 61:2).
Without you we could not endure the storms of life. We could not
weather life’s difficulties. You give us peace because you keep our
minds on you (Isaiah 26:3).
Thanks for being that rock when things are not stable. Thanks for
being our joy in times of sorrow. Thanks for being light in darkness.
Thanks for being Jesus. You are everything to us and we give you
glory.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Copyright 2008. Turning the World Upside Down Covenant Fellowship,
Inc.- The Teaching and Preaching Ministry of T.Anthony Bronner. All
Rights Reserved.