Today is June 24.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.   
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the book of Acts, chapter 27.  

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.  

Welcome to prayer today. Listen again to a few descriptive passages from our text: gentle wind, caught by the storm, driven along, violent battering, gave up all hope... The story begins with a ‘gentle wind’, and ends with all hope lost. Which image feels more resonant to you today: being guided by a gentle wind? Feeling battered and without hope? Talk to the Lord about the state of your soul.  
   
Listen again to the text, and pay attention to one word of phrase that feels instructive or highlighted for you.  
   
In the storm, they let the ship be driven along. That’s a picture of lowering the sail, and allowing the wind and waves to take control. To stop fighting the storm. If you are in a place that feels like a place where ‘neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and the storm continued raging... if you are tempted to give up all hope.... i pray that the God of all power meets you in this moment. I pray you feel His hands holding you together. And I pray for mercy and relief from the storm that you are facing. God’s peace to you in the midst of the wind and waves, in Jesus’ name.

Music: Fix My Eyes - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)