He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,
“Quiet! Be still!”
The wind ceased and there was great calm.
MARK 4:39
Jesus is Lord of the wind and sea. He calms the storms with His authority and commands the waves to obey His decree. He rescues us from the depths of despair and comforts us with His love and care. The Lord rules over all with His sovereignty and calls us to trust Him and end our strife.
Jesus will calm the storms of your life. He will whisper peace to your troubled soul, lift you up when you feel low and be your refuge and your strength. He will never leave you nor forsake you, and will always be faithful and true for He is your Lord and Savior. Be still and know that Jesus is God.
35 On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to the disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mark 4:35-41)
The Lord opens up your heart to the consequences of your acts. He shows you the fruits of your deeds, good or bad. He teaches you the wisdom of His ways, right or wrong. He leads you to repentance or judgment, grace or wrath. He reveals to you the impact of your words, life or death. The Lord exposes to you the results of your choices, blessing or curse. He directs you to faithfulness or unfaithfulness, reward or loss.
Whatever you do shall eventually return to you. The seeds you sow will reap a harvest, good or bad. The words you speak will echo back, blessing or curse. The actions you take will reflect on you, honor or shame. The choices you make will determine your destiny, life or death. The faith you have will be tested, perseverance or doubt.
1 The Lord sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, Nathan said: “Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor. 2 The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers. 3 But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him. 4 Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor.” 5 David grew very angry with that man and said to him: “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this merits death! 6 He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel: 10 ‘The sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord: ‘I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.’” 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan answered David “The Lord on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. 14 But since you have utterly spurned the Lord by this deed, the child born to you must surely die.” 15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The Lord struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill. 16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth. 17 The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them. (2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17)
God frees you from bloodguilt. He washes away your stains with His blood, forgives your sins with His mercy, and cleanses your conscience with His Spirit. He breaks the chains of your past with His power, heals the wounds of your soul with His grace, and restores the joy of your salvation with His love. The Lord calls you to a new life with His voice, leads you to a new path with His light and gives you a new purpose with His will.
12 A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 13 Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. 14 Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 15 I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. 16 Free me from bloodguilt, O God, my saving God; then my tongue shall revel in your justice. 17 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. (Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 16-17)
Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of the wind and the sea. You have the power to calm any storm in my life. You have the authority to silence any fear in my heart. You have the grace to comfort any pain in my soul. I humbly come to You in the midst of my troubles. I trust in You to be my refuge and my strength. I surrender to You all my worries and my burdens. I rest in You to be my peace and my joy. Thank You for being with me always, for hearing my cry and answering my prayer, for loving me unconditionally and eternally. Thank You for quieting the storms of my life. Amen
Pericope:
THE CALMING OF A STORM AT SEA
II: The Mystery of Jesus
Mark 4:35-41
IV: The Reign of David
NATHAN'S PARABLE
2 Samuel 12:1-25
Second Book of Psalms 42-72
THE MISERERE: PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
Psalm 51:1-21
Reflection Source:
Copilot with Bing Chat
