Devotions from Judy’s heart
In my younger years, I was very afraid of storms since we were often at the lake when they occurred and we had no safe place to go for cover. Our cabin was without a foundation and rested on pillars. We were in some bad storms and I wondered at times if the cabin would be blown away. But later in life the Lord healed me and one day I realized I didn’t get that awful feeling in the pit if my stomach anymore when the sky grew black. I felt peace. That could only be Him! 
Today there is a bigger storm on our horizon as the world around us is in chaos and people are shaken. With the pandemic, civil unrest, riots, wars, famines, earthquakes and floods, people are despairing and many even taking their own lives. So, what is the Lord saying to the church and how can we make a difference? I was reading an article by Lavinia Spirito who writes about the Signs of the Times. She said the church has become complacent and accommodating the world, and pastors are burning out and preaching what itching ears want to hear rather than the truth. Sin is no longer called sin and truth is becoming relative. Yes, the storm is coming and is maybe already here, and we need to be prepared, vigilant, and ready. As Paul said in I Thess. 5:6 (ESV), “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” There will be coming persecution and purification and those who know the Lord will have to take a stand. We need to stay awake and have our lamp lit with extra oil (oil being a symbol of our relationship with Him), for the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, and judgment is coming. We are to shake off our slumber and complacency. We are also to seek out like minded believers and stand together. We are first of all children of God and joined by His love and not political parties. We were not meant to go alone but join others in the Body of Christ. Our mission to be like “agents behind enemy lines”, sharing the Lord and helping others. We are to ask the Lord what He is saying to us and to let go of those things that stand in our way of obedience to Him. It will be more important than ever to be reading the Word and eating spiritual food. Spirito warns us to watch our words, to put on the armor of God daily and pray much. The church will become smaller as we face hard times and go through the sifting process, but what will remain will be the Church of faith that can’t be shaken.
Challenge for today: Takes steps to prepare for the storm and strengthen your faith so you will be able to stand together with other in Christ. 
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy