September 24                                     Ps 31 - 33

DEALING WITH STORMS

MEMORISE: 'Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivered him out of them all.' (Ps 34:19)
READ: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

One thing the average bird hates is a storm. They can be drenched in the rain and exposed to cold and even death. Any time they see a storm coming, you will find them flying fast to their nests and screaming in terror. But the eagle, the king of birds, reacts differently. When it sees the storm coming, it responds in three ways: first, it tries to establish where the storm is coming from, then faces it and waits until it is close by. Then the eagle lifts up its wings and the waves of the storm come under it and lift it up, just as the wings lift up an aeroplane.

Secondly, the eagle begins to laugh, while other birds are turning their backs to the storm and flying frantically homeward. In the same way you as a spiritual eagle must not turn your back to your enemies. If you do so, they can strike you down - of all the amour available to you, there is not one designed to protect your back (Eph 6:13- 18). Also 1 Peter 5:6-9 says you should resist continuously in any area of attack. That means, you will face the enemy and say, 'Satan take your hands off my property, in Jesus' Name.'

When Goliath drew near to David, David ran to meet his opponent because he was a true spiritual eagle. Never run from the problem. Do not run from those threatening you. Face and withstand them in Jesus' Name. Similarly, James says you should rejoice when you go through diverse trials. Rejoice! Do not weep. Some people weep daily and ask God what they have done to deserve their predicaments. If you are a true spiritual eagle, you can enjoy a ride on the storms of lack, persecution and affliction, like Paul (2 Cor 11:22-30).

Thirdly, the eagles ride on the storm. Ephesians 1:19-23 says God has put all things under the feet of Jesus and we are in him, so all problems, demons and the storms of life are under our feet. This is why we should not be disturbed by the storms. Satan is under my feet so if he brings any storm, I will just laugh. Paul and Silas, while facing their storm in prison, began to praise God. Peter walked on stormy water to meet Jesus. After his arrest and under threat of death the following morning, Peter slept so well in prison that the angel had to hit hard to wake him up. Ride on your storm. Praise and worship God in the midst of it.

ACTION POINT
Allow the Lord to enable you to handle the storms of life like the eagle.
Pray for our children's protection from evil.