2023 Fasting Devotional

Author: Raymond Farr

“Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”

Acts 27:20

In Acts chapter 27, Paul describes in great detail the account of being caught in the eye of the storm while traveling the high seas.  In verse 13, he talks about how the south winds blew softly over the waters, giving the ship captain the go-ahead to set sail. But shortly after setting sail out of nowhere, a violent northeasterly storm known as a Euroclydon appeared, and the ship was caught in the eye of the storm.  With no light from either sun or stars, this violent storm-tossed Paul, and the crew around the ship in complete darkness. The winds howled, and the waves beat against the ship with a violent force so fierce that it felt like the ship would break apart.  At that point Paul said, “all hope of getting out of this storm alive was lost.”

Back in the 70’s, a violent tornado destroyed most of our small town of 12,000 people. I was still a rebellious teenager lost in sin and doing everything I could to destroy my future.  It was a normal weekday around 6:30 in the evening, and everybody was home from school. My oldest sister was on the phone, my two younger sisters were in the bedroom doing homework, and I was in the living room with my three brothers watching TV.  Suddenly, the atmospheric pressure in the house became still and motionless.  Seconds later, my dad burst into the house and yelled, “everybody get in the hallway NOW, and get down”. All seven children made a V-line into the hallway and hit the floor. None of us knew what was going on at the time, but we knew that if Dad said jump, we jumped then and asked questions later.  The next three minutes seem like an eternity, and that’s because they were. My mom covered us with her body, and my dad covered my mom with his body, while trying to protect her and us too.  

Then, out of nowhere, the house began to shake, and we heard what sounded like a freight train blasting its horn directly over us, ready to smash us to pieces. Then I heard a sound that I never heard before; this sound pierced through my heart and touched the inner part of my soul. My 275 lbs., 6 feet 3 “man’s man” dad cried out to God with tears in his eyes, “JESUS, Have Mercy Lord! Please Jesus!” Hearing my dad call on the name of Jesus, rang out louder than the noise of the storm, and immediately, there was still and calm.  The winds ceased, and the noise became quiet. That day, God harken to the voice of a man and sent the storm around our house, without a broken window or even a missing shingle.

God can work in hopeless situation. That day, I witnessed my dad get his house in order.  This was visually demonstrated by the husband covering the wife; the wife covering the children, and thereby God delivered the family. No storm or work of the enemy can stop God’s plan for your life when you put your house in divine order.  The storms of life are coming.  We must all ask ourselves if our life is in order, to endure the storms until we see the deliverance of God.

And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’  Acts 27: 22-24

PRAYER

Lord, help me not to lean on my own understanding but in everything acknowledge You so that You can direct my words, thoughts, and actions. Hold me in the storms of my life and remind me that I safe in your arms.  I acknowledge you as the God of the storm, and the wind and waves obey Your Word.  Speak your “peace” to my troubled soul.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.