THE GREAT CALM

            “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”  Mark 4:37-40 

           

The last few days God has been speaking to me about maintaining an inner calm. As a busy mom, pastor’s wife and business owner the opportunity to get stressed out is never far away. I often allow myself to get in to these frantic frames of mind, usually in the final hours/minutes of preparing my home for frequent guests, or prepping for some meeting or just preparing myself and family to get out the door on time to a church service, bible study or school event. I become so hurried, not just physically but mentally, too. But lately in the midst of those times, and even throughout a typical day, I am hearing the Spirit say, “Stop. Slow down, I’m here.” I guess the best word to describe what He is calling me to is ‘mindfulness’; an inner communion with Him that remains unbroken. Whether it be fear, workload, worries about children, daily responsibilities – ALL must bow to the knowledge and awareness of Christ within. He must be Lord.

           

That is why this passage in Mark stood out to me. “There was a GREAT CALM.” I am not a fisherman. I may never, in this life, find myself out in an actual boat on a stormy sea. But around me daily swirl the ‘storms of life’ and at times, like the disciples that day, I look to Jesus in my frantic frame of mind and say, “Do you see all this? Don’t you care?” His response is the same to me as it was then, “Peace. Be still.” I am slowly learning how to live in a place of inner calm, a ‘great calm', simply by choosing to remain quieted before Him, aware and no matter what- mindful of Him within, as Lord. There is a centering upon the peace of God within that I must maintain. Daily.

           

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:17

“My peace is to be a mark that you are indeed following My path for you. Did I not say that you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace? My peace is proof that you are spending sufficient time with Me. It is the central Rock to your life, to each day. Cast yourself upon it daily, and remain. Cling to it, for you are clinging to Me. As you do I will order things around you. Yes, you’ve gotten into some bad habits, but I will walk you out of them. I am turning things around for you. This is the beauty of walking with me, not ahead, not trailing behind. The way opens up before Me, for I am the Lord.  Live in today with Me, and you will marvel at My greatness, and My goodness towards you.”