Take Immediate Precautions!

This was a first.  An “Emergency Communicaton” from the National Weather Service.

I had been listening to some distant thunder when I heard the phone ring.  I saw that emergency message on the Caller ID before I answered the call.  The automated warning gave me goosebumps.

“The National Weather Service has just issued a Code Red Alert for your area.  A severe thunderstorm is fast approaching, with heavy rains, dangerous winds and dangerous hail.  Take Immediate Precautions!”

I hung up.  My dear husband was running errands some twenty miles away.  I called him with the warning.  He saw a storm in the distance, but the weather was fine where he was.  I cautioned him to be very careful.  I ran outside to call Skippy.  She was nowhere to be seen.  She normally hates storms; whether outside or in, she finds a place to hide until it passes.  I called and called and called… to no avail.  Skippy was MIA.

So I took the most immediate and effective precautions I could:  I prayed.

I was inside.  My two loved ones were outside.  But You were everywhere, Lord… holding each of us in the palm of Your hand.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:6-7) 

I prayed as the storm approached.  I prayed as the storm descended.  I prayed as the storm departed.  There was wind, to be sure… and lots of rain.  No hail (at least not here).

I prayed until my husband arrived home safely.  I prayed until Skippy showed up at the door during a lull in the rain.  She was meowing as if to say, “Let me in already!  Don’t you know there’s a storm out here?”  

Ahhh… My favorite pasttime:  Herding cats.   🙂

I’m praying now, Lord, with great thanksgiving.  Thanking You for Your kindness in taking care of those so dear to me.  Thanking You for Your Grace, which knows no bounds. Thanking You for Your priceless reminder that any “control” I may think I have in any given situation is more illusion than reality.

But “control” is not the same as influence.  And I can, by Your Spirit, wield more supernatural influence through prayer than I can through a thousand other “natural” actions I might take.

It is no accident that You prominently reference prayer when You describe the armor You provide to Your people for the spiritual battles we face day-in and day-out.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel… Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”  (Ephesians 6:10-11,18-10)

Immediate Precautions with Eternal Protections.  What’s not to like???   🙂

Singing in the rain,

Abba’s Girl

 

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