Wednesday, January 14, 2009

When Your Sails No Longer Have Wind

I receive a daily devotional by email - thought I'd share this one:

Julie (LM)

When Your Sails No Longer Have Wind

TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman01-09-2009
He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven (Ps 107:29-30).
Imagine for a moment you began an exciting sailing adventure. You've been trained to navigate and sail on the ocean and be ready should trouble arise. You are confident you can handle the challenge. However, midway in the journey your resources have dried up. It almost seems God has intentionally destroyed all the skills you have to deal with the weather and the obstacles and your sails are now damaged. Even your engine has broken down. And to make matters even worse, your oars were lost overboard. You are stuck in the middle of the ocean and there is no wind to propel your boat. You are, as they say, "up the creek without a paddle."
All of this leads you to the end of yourself and you say, "Lord, I don't know why you brought me out here only to die." The silence is deafening.
Finally, the Lord speaks, "Yes, you are right. I did bring you out here. I did destroy your sails. I did break your engine. And yes, I do want you dead. Not in a physical sense, mind you, but in a spiritual sense. In order that you may LIVE."
"You see my child, you are nothing without Me. You cannot do anything without my grace and power in your life." The sailor quietly yields. Suddenly, a gentle wave lifts the front of the boat. An easterly wind blows through the broken sail moving the boat in the right direction. You realize God is moving your boat! Your role now is to steer it.
Do your sails no longer have wind to move you? Is your engine broken? Does it feel like God has propelled you into the open sea only to stop midway with no options? Perhaps He is saying it is time to die in order that He might live through you. Give the Lord total control today and you will see His wind moving through your tattered sails.

5 comments:

Terry said...

Dear Little Missionary Julie
How nice to hear your voice again and bringing with you this great post with such a good message.
I pray that everything is going well in your life....Love Terry

Felisol said...

Also thinking and praying for you , Julie LBM.
Thanks for sharing worrds of hope.
From Felisol

Vicki said...

I guess it's not until we're truly broken that we begin to understand our need for His life to move through us... because we've for so long depended on our own efforts.

Thanks for sharing the devotional, Julie. Feeling tattered today.

hugs,
Vicki

Amrita said...

Thank you Julie for sharing this.
I feel that my sails no longer have wind.
Yesterday my sister told me that my BIL 's company is closing down and he will only be paid till Feb.

This came as a huge shock. They are also devastated.

We tried to encourage and comfort one another over the internet.(They live in NB)

I will send this post to them.
Request prayer also.

BIL Prem
Sister Anju

I will post a prayer request for them. The electricity is about to go off so I can 't do that right now.

David Edward said...

praise god, only he can propel us through the voyage of life.