Devotions by Pastor Dave Timm: Wednesday – June 2, 2021

By March 22, 2022 March 24th, 2022 Uncategorized

A little boy knelt to say his bedtime prayers. His parents heard him reciting the alphabet in very reverent tones. When asked what he was doing, he replied, “I’m saying my prayers, but I cannot think of the exact words tonight. So, I’m just saying all the letters. God knows what I need, and he’ll put all the words together for me.”

That story brings a smile to my face! It’s true, even though God knows our needs and desires, He still wants to hear from us….and to communicate back to us through our prayer time. I hope that you take the time to pray, and equally important, take time to sit quietly for Him to respond. He may not shout (He usually does that in the storms we face) …but He will whisper in your ear, if you can remove the “noise” that fills your mind. Psalm 46:10…Be still, and know that I am God!

Imagine that I call you on the phone every night right before I go to bed. I talk “at you”, non-stop for 5 minutes, and then hang up. You never get a chance to say a word. That is not a conversation! Is that what your prayer life sounds like?

I hope not….and more importantly that is not what God desires.

Not sure how to pray…try this ACTS of prayer outline:

  • adoration…Tell Him that He is your Lord! (Deuteronomy 6:5…You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might)
  • C confession…Tell Him you have messed up and let Him down, seek His forgiveness! (1 John 1:9…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness)
  • T thanksgiving…Every good gift comes from Him! (Psalm 107:1…Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good)
  • S supplication…ask! Your heavenly Father wants to know what would please you! Ask for the needs of others as well. Matthew 7:7…ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be open to you)
  • Then just sit quietly. Be sure to turn off the tv, the social media…and just listen. He wants to communicate with you on the good days…and the not so good days

So…why does God desire to communicate with you? LOVE! He loves you unconditionally…forever!

This is wedding season…thoughts of LOVE (and a very expensive wedding day!) Sally walks to and from school every day. She loves skipping along the sidewalk, looking at the flowers, and saying “hi” to neighbors and shopkeepers along the way. One morning the sky was cloudy, and rain was forecast for later in the day. But Sally still wanted to walk to school. Her mother allowed her to but told her to take an umbrella, just in case. When school was over, Sally began her walk home. As she skipped along, the wind began to howl, and raindrops started falling from the sky. Sally opened her umbrella and continued on her way. Suddenly a bolt of lightning cut through the sky, followed by a roar of thunder. Sally’s mom quickly jumped into her car and drove the route to Sally’s school. Aside from the physical danger, she was afraid that Sally would be frightened by the noise and flashing light, which was now occurring at regular intervals, several times a minute. Around the corner Sally’s mother saw her little girl walking along with her umbrella. But at each Flash of lightning, Sally would stop, look up at the sky, and smile. Sally’s mother watched this routine repeat itself 3 times. Each lightning Flash caused Sally to stop walking, look up at the sky, and smile. Finally, Sally’s mother called to her, “Sally, what on Earth are you doing?”

Sally answered, “I’m smiling. God keeps taking pictures of me!!!”

It’s been said that if God had a wallet, you can bet your pictures in it. Or it’s hanging on His refrigerator. The next time you are in a storm of life remember that God may just be snapping a few pictures of you. Smile.

And then turn to Him in prayer…right then. Wherever you are, He is just waiting to hear from you. When you reach out to Him in the storm, He will calm the storm, as only He can do!

Luke 8:22-25…  One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So, they got into a boat and set out.  As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.  “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

So…you may not be out on a lake as the clouds appears….but what storms are you facing? (financial, emotional, relational, spiritual) Have you spoken to the Lord about it? Have you listened to His nudge to you in regard to that storm? He may not remove the storm as He did in the above Bible section, but he promises His peace in the storm.

Several years ago, a submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours. When it returned to the harbor, the captain was asked, “How did the terrible storm last night affect you?” The officer looked at him in surprise and exclaimed, “Storm? We didn’t even know there was one!” The sub had been so far beneath the surface that it had reached the area known to sailors as “the cushion of the sea.” Although the ocean may be whipped into huge waves by high winds, the waters below are never stirred.

This, I believe, is a perfect picture of the peace that comes from Christ. The waves of worry, of fear, of heartbreak, cannot touch those resting in Christ. Sheltered by His grace and encouraged by His Spirit, the believer is given the perfect tranquility that only Christ can provide.

John 16:33… “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

  • Spend time talking with the Lord!
  • Listen for His voice!
  • Find your peace in His promise to Love you even in the storms!

Humor for the day:

Little Johnny’s family is sitting at the dinner table. Lil Johnny’s dad tells him to say the dinner prayer.  Little Johnny says, “Dear God, Thank you for the food we are about to eat, and please, oh please God, send clothes for all those poor ladies on Dad’s computer. Amen!” OUCH

One more:

One Sunday in a Midwest City, a young child was “acting up” during the morning worship hour. The parents did their best to maintain some sense of order in the pew but were losing the battle. Finally, the father picked the little fellow up and walked sternly up the aisle on his way out. Just before reaching the safety of the foyer, the little one called loudly to the congregation, “Pray for me! Pray for me!”