I don’t know about you, but often I find myself knowing of events in the Bible but not KNOWING them for myself. I’m not talking about literal situations like Jonah and the giant whale, but the part in the passage where God shows up. For example, when Jesus’ disciples were in the middle of the water during a storm with little visibility, probably freezing from the rain and terrified of the loud thunder but Jesus appears and tells the storm to cease, and it obeys. Just when conditions in the situation increased to almost unbearable, Jesus showed up. He RESCUES His children. Or Mary Magdalene who was listening to the wrong voices instead of The Voice. Anything that is in our head telling us who we are that is contrary to what God our creator says, is a lie. Anything in our head telling us what to believe contrary to what God tells us, is a lie. Anything in our head that tells us how to act other than what God says, is a lie. God’s word tells us we are precious in His sight; we are His children that find hope only in Jesus and love others because He first loved us. Going back to Mary, when Jesus saw her suffering and struggling, He called her by name and healed her. She was finally able to see clearly who her Father was, and whom her worth was in. Just when we feel in over our head, remember that Jesus will never let you go. What a powerful truth to remember and let me challenge you to see how your life will change when you begin to believe that. Sometimes in my life I can find myself focusing so much on the storm around me, rather than the Savior in front of me. Sometimes for me in my life I can find myself listening to the wrong voices that tell me I am ugly, not worthy, and awful instead of the voice of my Creator who knows me best that calls me and you beautiful, worthy and chosen. Here’s what it comes down to: I can see these wonderful accounts in the Bible and know of them but somehow forget that they can happen for me; and that they will. I feel like it’s a miracle of the time but not a miracle of the present. The beautiful thing is our God doesn’t follow a timeline; He is above that. Therefore, He can do way more than I can ever think or imagine. I need to remember that God being a refuge, healer, and Savior isn’t just for His disciples or Mary Magdelene, but for you and me. So how does that change our prayer life? I know I can step into prayer asking God for help in my situation. What I want you to realize, friend, is if I know God can do all of these amazing acts like be a refuge to Peter, or healer to Mary, why am I hesitant to ask God for the same thing for me? Let’s go read Mark 6:30-44. Take a second to read it again and be careful not to allow your brain to fill in what it think it might know. After reading that passage, you can take away the amazing power Jesus had to multiply fishes and loaves to feed people that He had compassion on. Let’s go on to read Mark 8:1-10. After reading this, I am simply astonished. This is a whole separate account. Jesus, being fully man and fully God, did it again. He showed up again. Our God is the same God yesterday, today, tomorrow, and forever. Therefore, let’s start believing He can do the same things for us and be confident in prayer.
