Boundary to the Storm (August 18)

Bible Reading

• Job 37-38
• Proverbs 24
• 1 John 1

What Spiritual Gift has God given for me to thank Him and praise Him for in worship today? (Rom 1:11)

1 John 1:5, 7 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

He is life itself (1 John 1:2), and that life is eternal life, but also a life of joy for today. That joy comes from fellowship with the Father and the son (1 John 1:3). As we live in fellowship with God, it will produce fellowship with each other (1 John 1:7).

Father, may we find you to be our source of life today. Nothing touches our life without going through your hands first. Our life is completely in your hand. Joy comes when we choose to live in fellowship with you, and rest in His hands, no matter what He has in store for us today.

But also, as we relate to others, the more we focus on staying in fellowship with Him, the more we will be in fellowship with those around us. Lord, help us to keep our focus on staying in fellowship with you. You are our life. You are our source of joy!

What encouraged me in my faith? (Rom 1:12)

Job 38:8-11 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’

God puts boundaries around the sea and ocean, limiting its shores, and even declaring, “This far and no farther.” Picture those words as you contemplate the power and destruction a hurricane can make. Even to the hurricane, God has said, “This far and no farther!” If God does that with the hurricane, can He also not do that to harm and difficulty that touches our lives? Is that not what he did with Job? (Job 1:12)

Father, thank you for putting a limit on the things that touch my life and the lives of those who read this. Like Job, before something has touched our life, permission came through you. Thank you for having our best in mind. Lord help us to remember this as we see the hurricane coming towards us, and when hard things come and when we feel life isn’t fair. You have declared, “This far and no farther!”

In the same way there is a beautiful peace that comes after a storm, may you give us that peace as we wait on you through the storms of life.

What spiritual fruit does God want to work in me and in those I share this with today? (Rom 1:13)

1 John 1:6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.

Heavenly Father, I admit today that I can choose to live in darkness when I fail to live according to your truth. You have told us, “Be anxious for nothing, pray about everything.” (Phil 4:6) “Don’t worry about these things (food, drink, clothing, etc) these things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers. God knows what you need. Seek his kingdom above all else…” I choose to live in darkness when I do not live by your truth!

Prov 24:10 If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

When my faith fails, when my faith is week, it is because I am not relying on God, not living according to His truth, but living by my own thinking and understanding (Prov 3:5-6) My strength is too small! Eph 6:10 I will only be strong, when I am living according to His power and His might!