II Peter 1:2-4 - "Hurricane" and "Need You Now"

I love when the Lord brings someone to my mind to pray for and then gives me a specific word for them.  As I was praying for a lady going through a difficult time with her physical body He said "endurance" and I thought wow!  What a great word for her situation.  Immediately I thought of Natalie Grant's song "Hurricane" and wondered if she feels like she is in a hurricane.  When I think of a hurricane, I think of disaster and things out of control.  Basically, that's where this lady is at.  She has dealt with one physical issue after another after another over the course of the last few years.  She has no control over it.  But thankfully she knows the One who does and that's the Lord.  No matter how desperate our situation may seem, He is greater.  No matter how many times we've cried out to Him, He is always there.  It reminds me of the song "How Many Times" by Plumb.  The words go, "How many times have you heard me cry out "God please take this"? How many times have you given me strength to just keep breathing? Oh I need you; God, I need you now."  I'm sure this is where she is today.  Her faith is probably shaky but she knows, down deep, she has the Lord to turn to and lean upon.  He has a reason for everything.  When we are going through tough times, we don't always see the reason BUT He does.  The cool thing about it is that we don't have to know it or even understand it because He is in control.  As I reflect back on the down times with my MS I am so grateful I finally came to the knowledge that I don't have to know or understand what is going on.  If He chooses to give me that knowledge, He will.  If He doesn't chose to, then I will be content in knowing He is in control and that is enough.  I use to think I had to be in control of everything...what a joke!  The Lord doesn't make us to be in control.  He creates us to allow Him control.  Woo hoo!  What a freedom in that knowledge!  

I love the words found in II Peter 1:2-4....

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The words, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" are the best!  His power gives us all we need to live holy lives.  His power is ALL we need.  We don't need anything else in order to live as He desires of us.  Woo hoo!  I love it!  And when we give in to that power we will have grace and peace in abundance.  Who doesn't want that?  We all should!  There are so many people living in this world stressed out over stuff when they don't have to be.  The answer is in the knowledge that God is in control and that's all that matters.  

Dear Jesus,
I thank You for the knowledge You gave me that I don't have to be in control but rather I just needed to allow You full control over my life.  I thank You for the way You encourage me through physical ailments.  Father, I pray for this one who is going through such a difficult time in her physical body.  Would you please put people before her that will encourage her today?  Would you give her exactly what she needs to get through this day?  No, let me change that.  Not just to get through this day but to rely on You and allow You to be her strength throughout this day?  Father, You are so awesome!  I praise Your Holy Name for being My Endurance!  Amen.

Hurricane - Natalie Grant

• You're spinning
  Out of control, again
  Your life feels like a sinking ship
  You're wondering
  How it came to
  This
  Is it too late?
  Is it too far for him to reach you?
  And come to where you are
  Step out on the edge
  Don't be afraid of it
  And when you feel the rain
  Call his name
  He'll find you in the hurricane
  
  You're in the wreckage underneath
  You're hope is buried
  Somewhere deep
  You're wondering how long it will keep
  It's never too late
  Never too far
  For you to reach out
  And take a hold of love
  
  Step out on the edge
  Don't be afraid of it
  And when you feel the rain
  Call His name
  He'll find you in a hurricane
  
  Don't back down from the fight
  He'll shelter you tonight
  Just hold on for the change
  Call His name
  He'll find you in the hurricane
  There's a place
  You can run
  When you fall
  And it's all come undone
  You'll be safe in the raging storm
  So just let go
  Cause you are held in His arms
  
  Step out on the edge
  Don't be afraid of it
  And when you feel the rain
  Call His name
  He'll find you in a hurricane
  
  And when you feel the rain
  Call His name
  He'll find you in a hurricane

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Need You Now - Plumb

  
  

  Well everybody's got a story to tell 
  And everybody's got a wound to be healed 
  I want to believe there's beauty here 
  Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on 
  I can't let go, I can't move on 
  I want to believe there's meaning here 
  
  (Chorus) 
  How many times have you heard me cry out 
  "God please take this"? 
  How many times have you given me strength to 
  Just keep breathing? 
  Oh I need you 
  God, I need you now. 
  
  Standing on a road I didn't plan 
  Wondering how I got to where I am 
  I'm trying to hear that still small voice 
  I'm trying to hear above the noise 
  
  Chorus 
  
  Oh I walk, oh I walk through the shadows 
  And I, I am so afraid 
  Please stay, please stay right beside me 
  With every single step I take 
  
  How many times have you heard me cry out? 
  And how many times have you given me strength? 
  
  Chorus 
  
  I need you now 
  I need you now