When The Wind Runs Out of Breath

Key Scripture

Philippians 4:6-7 MSG

6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Mark 4:35-41 NLT

35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

Key Number 1

Focus on the destination in the middle of distress

38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Key Number 2

Have peace in you even when its not around you

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Key Number 3

Acknowledge and rejoice when the storm stops

Mark 4:39 MSG

39 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath and the sea became smooth as glass.

Key Number 4

Christ has the authority over the author of your storm

PSALMS 27:4

The one thing I ask of the Lord—

the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

delighting in the Lord’s perfections

and meditating in his Temple.

PSALMS 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,

so why should I tremble?

PSALM 23:1 NLT

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

Psalm 20:4 NLT

May he grant your heart’s desires

and make all your plans succeed.

PSALM 19:14

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing to you,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

It’s important that we remember the words of our mouth are creating the path to our future. One of my favorite scriptures says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So if we really want to change what we say, we need to change what we believe. This year we will accomplish so much more as we think His thoughts and talk His talk.

Unpack the Past

Key Scripture

Isaiah 43:18 GNT

But the Lord says, “Do not cling to events of the past or dwell on what happened long ago.

1 Kings 19:19-21 NLT

“So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!” Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.” So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.”

Key Number 1

Follow the future

Key Number 2

Remember what He’s done

1 Kings 19:20 MSG

Elisha deserted the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please! Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye—then I’ll follow you.”

“Go ahead,” said Elijah, “but, mind you, don’t forget what I’ve just done to you.”

Key Number 3

Make it impossible to return