Evangel Prison Ministries
Psalms 107:29 “He stilled the storms to a whisper.” Luke 8:24 “He rebuked the wind and raging waters, the storms subsided and all was calm.”
What is a storm? The definition of a storm is: a violent upheaval of nature. Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Missouri make up an area that is prone to tornadoes … Florida, around the coast, and in the gulf, is hurricane territory … Up north, it is blizzards … and in the desert, there are sandstorms.
In recent years a movie was filmed called, “The Perfect Storm”.
I have not seen the movie, and I kept wondering how anyone could call
a storm, “perfect”, until one day a friend explained how the
conditions were “perfect” to create a storm. Before a tornado
touches ground, there is an eerie stillness – no breeze, not a leaf
moving, or bird singing. The atmosphere takes on a greenish color. Then
comes a driving rain, the destructive winds, and the funnel cloud hits
full-force. In a hurricane, as the eye of the storm passes over, there
is a period of calmness, with the sun shining, until the back part of
the storm hits, unleashing its fury. After the storm passes, the sky is
crystal clear and the air is fresh and sweet. Only the destruction strewn
all around shows that a storm has passed through.
The storms on earth are similar to the storms of life. There is an old
hymn that has these words, “When the storms of life are raging,
stand by me, when the storms of life are raging, stand by me, when the
world is tossing me like a ship upon the sea, He who ruleth wind and water,
stand by me.” You may be going through a storm in your life where
you don’t know which way to go or what to do. You may experience
temporary relief as you travel through the eye of the storm. Then the
storm hits again and the hounds of hell are tormenting and tearing at
your very soul. You may be crying out, “Where are You’ Lord?
Don’t You even care?” It may be that He is not calming the
storm, but He is there to calm to calm you with His Presence. We don’t
have to give in to or be defeated by the storms. We must face them, deal
with them, and overcome them – and we can because victory is in
the Lord Jesus Christ. He doesn’t give only temporary relief –
He gives permanent relief. Psalms 46:1 says, God is our refuge and
strength, an ever present help in trouble.”
On your journey through life, you will experience trials. But, God has
the power to keep you safe. 1 John 4:4b “Greater is He that
is in you than he that is in the world.” The Holy Spirit lives
within you as a child of God and through the Holy Spirit you can overcome
trials, temptations, sorrow, persecution, sin, and all that satan throws
at you. You can victoriously achieve God’s will for your life.
Matthew 14:29-31 says “Then Peter got down out of the boat,
walked on water, and came toward Jesus, but when he saw the wind, he was
afraid and beginning to sink cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
Immediately, Jesus reached out His Hand and caught him.” As long
as Peter had his eyes off Jesus and began to look at the waves and began
to listen to the wind, he began to sink. Victory is possible only
when we keep our eyes on the Lord!
Have you ever seen a landslide blocking the road? As you journey down
the road of life, there may be a landslide blocking your way and going
forward is impossible. The landslide could have been placed in your life
by God to stop you from going in the direction you were headed. Try looking
at the situation through God’s eyes – not yours. Look around
to see if there is another road in your life leading in another direction.
It’s possible that it is a road God has prepared just for you and
it will lead to the destination God has for you. Following God’s
road always leads to victory! Each one of you that is reading this newsletter
is important to God and to this ministry. Let us hear from you so that
we can place you on our 30-day prayer list where our intercessors will
pray for you.
Father God, I come to You today in the precious name of Jesus asking You
to have Your hand upon each and every one that is reading this newsletter.
You said in the Word that the steps of a good man (or woman) are ordered
of the Lord. I ask today that You would order their steps. Guide their
footsteps and take them in the direction You have planned for their lives.
Make and mold them into the men and women of God that You have called
them to be. Strengthen them and protect them. Help them to read the Word
to understand the Word, and show them how to apply the
Word to their lives. I pray that each one will walk with You the rest
of their days on this earth. When they get out they will never look back
to their old ways, but continue to stay focused on You, In Jesus’
Name. Amen!