Wednesday: AM I PREPARED FOR THE STORM?

Apr 12, 2023
2 min read

AM I PREPARED FOR THE STORM?

Luke 6:43-49

43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

If I look to a bad tree to pick good fruit, I’m looking in the wrong place. The moment I get pricked by a thorn or a bramble, I’ll know I’m picking from the wrong tree. Likewise, if I desire to be good, then the good treasure of my heart should bring forth good. This only happens if the good treasure comes from Jesus Christ. If instead my heart is filled with things that do not please God, then out of my heart will spring forth sin.

If the Lord dwells in my heart, then I should look forward to doing life with Him each day. I should spring to my feet each morning and ask, “Lord, what are we going to do today?” If I call Jesus my Lord, then I need to be attentive to what He wants to do with me.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS

When I surrender my life to Him, my life is no longer my own. Today the Lord wants to establish His temple within me. That involves digging a foundation in my heart, and clearing out all the things in my heart that will be distractions to following Him. I’m throwing out the bad anxieties, fears, angers, bitterness and self-centered pride, that may have even created a depressed spirit within me. I’m bringing I the truth and grace of the Lord and the everlasting hope that is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12).

If I’m leaning on God’s hope, truth and grace in my life, I’ll be well prepared for the next storm that comes into my life. God allows these storms in my life to test and prove that His grace, truth and hope are trustworthy for me to lean on.

Lord, please prepare my heart for the storms, so that when then come, Your grace, truth and hope will stand firm in my heart. Amen.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman