We are back home after spending a few days with our daughter and son-in-law in Boston.  Heeding to the warning of approaching hurricane Irene, we stayed home on Sunday.  Praise God, the hurricane lost its strength by the time it hit Boston.

We had our Sabbath at home, took time to reflect on Psalms 91, sang few songs of praise, and took turns to pray.  My son-in-law prayed from Psalms 29: 4,5 and saw the power and majesty of God in the storm that we were in.  I meditated on Psalm 29 and God encouraged me to look at the storms of life with the eye of the Lord (heavenly perspective) rather than the eye of Irene (destruction, fear).

Worship in the midst of the storm (Psalms 29:1-2)

Tall pine trees towering over 50 feet swayed back and forth by the powerful wind.  Weather forecasters, with the help of technology, measured and warned about the approaching hurricane but were unable to prevent or re-direct the path of the storm. We could only marvel while looking out the window and seeing the powerful wind bending the trees with ease.  “Ascribe glory and strength to the Lord, worship him in the splendor of his holiness,” instead of being fearful and defeated by the storm.

Cleansing in the midst of the storm (Psalms 29:3-10)

Violent wind broke dead and live branches and vines that were entangled between the branches and striped off leaves from the trees. There were no trees uprooted but heavy rain and wind can uproot even the tall trees. We saw and heard the sound of the storm. Psalmist David says the voice of the Lord is over the waters, powerful, majestic, breaks the cedars, strikes with flashes of lighting, shakes the desert, twists the oaks, and strips the forest bare.  His voice, the WORD, can do mighty things in life because it is powerful.  He uses the storms of our life to force us to stay home (His presence), strip away unwanted things, break off the dead and entangled things, and uproot things that are not of God.

Peace in the midst of the storm (Psalms 29:10,11)

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; is enthroned over the hurricane, tornadoes, earthquakes, droughts, and all over his creations.  Everything is under his feet and he is in control of everything.  He gives strength to his people and blesses his people with peace.

Dear child of God, I encourage you to look at the storm that you are facing now with the “eye of worship” instead of  “eye of fear.”  See the majesty and power of God that is at work.  See the storm with the “eye of cleansing” instead of the  “eye of destruction.” See the hand of the Lord shaking to settle you, stripping to clothe you, breaking to mold you, and uprooting to plant you.  Allow Him to be the Lord over the storms of your life, enthrone Him to be the King forever over it.

Lord, I pray this child of yours will find peace and comfort and will be able to worship you in the storm that is threatening and coming with destructive power.