Currently, our world is caught in the midst of a mighty storm. One that blew in out of nowhere taking everyone by surprise. A storm the likes of which none of us have ever witnessed before. Currently, the waves are violently crashing, the wind is howling, and the floodwaters are still rising. But this storm will pass over and there will be an after.
We know this for the simple fact that we know God and His word. Scripture tells us that the Lord hears our prayers. Also saying that because He hears them we know they will be answered. The church has done an amazing job at binding together in prayer through this storm and our God will respond.
1 John 5:14–15 (ESV)
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
But after the storm passes and the fear and worry melt away we must respond properly. It will not be the time to quickly return to the status quo. After all the prayers we have poured out asking God to move in our situation we can’t simply say a quick thank you and move on. We must take the time to offer worship and praise to God for hearing and responding to our prayers.
That is exactly the response we see after God caused many storms to pass in the Bible. Noah and his family weathered a storm that has had a lasting effect on our world. After the floodwaters receded and his family could leave the boat. They did not immediately begin to rebuild their lives as you would expect. No the very first thing Noah did on dry ground was built an altar. So that he could offer up praise to the God that saw him through.
Genesis 8:14 (ESV)
14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth had dried out.
Genesis 8:20 (ESV)
20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
The disciples also faced a great storm once while traveling by boat. One that even caused a group of professional fishermen to become scared. Jesus came to them in the night during the storm. He climbed into the boat the wind stopped and the water was calm. Many of us would have probably gone for the oars in order to quickly bring the boat to shore. But the disciples stopped and took the time to worship Jesus.
Matthew 14:24 (ESV)
24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
Matthew 14:32–33 (ESV)
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
God will calm this storm just as He did those. Our Lord will carry the church to the other side and we will again see a day without this virus. When that day comes and this is over we need to stop and take time to thank God. Our first stop must not be the mall, office, spa, gym, or anywhere else. Our lives have waited this long and they can continue to wait until we have responded to God.
After this is all over our first stop needs to be our knees where ever we may be. Thanking God for calming the storm and seeing us to the other side. Then with any hope, our next stop can be the church. Where we can come together with our brothers and sisters in faith. United in our purpose to praise the name of the Lord on the very day the gathering bans are lifted.
Church, we cannot spend this season in prayer crying out to God. Asking him to move in a mighty way. Only to find ourselves not putting the same amount of energy into worshiping Him when He triumphantly carries us into the next season. Decide today that after the storm has subsided you won’t do anything before you spend time thanking the Lord!
Psalm 96:4 (ESV)
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 145:3 (ESV)
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
Isaiah 12:5 (ESV)
5 “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
James 5:13 (ESV)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
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