Week 137: In the Eye of the Storm

                            In the Eye of the Storm  

O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully 

          rewardeth the proud doer. Psalm 31:23

• Hazardous winds. . .

• Rogue waves. . .

• Torrential rains. . .  

                      

Whether it’s the wicked winds of a cyclone, typhoon, hurricane, or tornado; in the eye of a storm the weather is mostly calm. It’s kind of hard to believe that in the center of all the devastation there is such a place.

There is a calm place we can go to when we face personal storms. Sometimes our storms come as an outwardly intruding force, or as a quiet emotional attack. Whatever kind, if we just locate the eye of the storm, we’ll find a safe harbor. Psalm 91 describes it as the Secret Place. Philippians 4:7 talks about the peace of God which is beyond understanding.

                 

I can only share what I do when a storm hits. The key for me is to  immediately find the Eye; meaning I go straight to God—alone. I don’t want to hear “Static” (see week 135) that people will bring with their opinions, ideas, and emotions. They might mean well, but I just want to hear a clear message from God. I pray and read scriptures that speak directly to my circumstances.

Then I wait for my spirit to connect to the Comforter. (John 14:26) Once that connection is made, my thoughts shift. I begin to feel God’s peace. My faith builds in knowing that Heaven’s Got It! 

If I don’t get into the presence of God, the devil’s illegal suggestions will drive me crazy. (See week 111; "Trust God or Go Stone Crazy.") There is no sense in trying to figure anything out while he’s SHOUTING in my ears. I’m getting better at detecting his lies at their onset. It’s like pulling weeds out of a yard. If I don’t stay on top of it, they’ll get out of control. 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

                                     Locate the Eye!

© 2016                          See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith

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Week 136: Watch Out - Don't Trip!

                        Watch Out—Don’t Trip!

                              Fight the good fight of faith. . . I Timothy 6:12a

• Watch your step. . .

• Watch your back. . .

• WATCH OUT!

We are jammed packed here on earth with all kinds of people. They’re everywhere. Most of them are pleasant, and play by the rules set by society. However, some are ill-mannered, vile, and out of their minds—crazy. They don’t abide by anybody’s rules. Their mission is to trip-up those who want to do right.          

                                   Watch Out—Don’t Trip! 

The devil is looking for whom he can devour. He has mean-spirited people scattered about for you to trip over. If you waste your life concentrating and brooding over how they have wronged you; thinking of ways to get back at them instead of focusing on your life and the assignment(s) that God has for you to do, well. . .

                                         You got devoured! 

You can’t let the devil control how you respond to negative emotions without jeopardizing the blessings that God has for you. It’s not easy to hand out love when hate is thrown at you, but that’s how it works in God’s kingdom.

          Short term gratification isn’t worth lifelong blessings.

               

Jesus died for you and for your haters to be free; not to have to live in bondage. Therefore, pray for your enemies. Don’t squander your time using ineffective weapons of hate.

                    You know what to do. Put on your armor;

                        fight the good fight of faith, and WIN.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:10-18)

If anybody is going to do any tripping, it will be the enemy.    

© 2016                          See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith

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Week 135: Static

                                       Static!

  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

• Crackling sounds. . .

• Hissing noises. . .

• Buzzing vibrations. . .

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                             SAY WHAT?

It’s aggravating when you are trying to hear your favorite song and there’s a lot of crackling sounds going on. You try to ignore it—but can’t. What causes this irritating buzz? It could be caused by any number of things: faulty wiring, poor receiver, bad connection, inclement weather, and the list goes on, and on.

Static not only affects your natural hearing, but your spiritual hearing too. When other people’s opinions, bright ideas, beliefs, or counsel interfere with you being able to discern God’s voice, that’s called static. Trying to make decisions while listening to all this noise is dangerous. It can throw your life completely off course. How can you sort through all this hullabaloo?

 

First, you have to know the value of hearing from God. It’s an honor to be able to go to God, and get directions. No one can take the place of God’s wisdom. Who can be a better source than Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Omniscient when making a decision? …the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (I Corinthians 1:25)

Secondly, you have to know God’s voice. You become familiar with His voice by studying His Word, and by spending quality one-on-one time in His presence. After a while, wrong advice will begin to sound like clattering clamor. 
      The most important thing in life is to hear God and obey.
 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 NIV)

Finally, by faith you have to trust your spiritual ears. You might not discern  God’s voice 100% all the time, but don’t let that discourage you. This is a learning process. Profit from your error, and keep listening. Remember, you’ll never grow in this area if you’re always depending on someone else to do your hearing for you.

The person you’re depending on could have a hearing impediment.  Hmmm!

Yes, God will speak to us through people. However, we must go to God first, and let Him direct us to whom we should take guidance from. You see; you still have to hear God for yourself to even know who He wants you to go to. The only way you can believe that you are being directed by God iszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz tozzzzzzzzzzzdevzzzzzzzelopzzzzzzzzzozzzzurzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz spiritzzzzzzzualzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzears.  Wezzzzzzzzzzzzzzdozzzzzzzzzzzzthatzzzzbyzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz uszzzzzzzzzzingzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzthemzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

                                               SAY WHAT?  

  

   © 2016                     See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith

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