Luke 8:41-56
Be Still: You, O Lord, stilled the wind and the waves. Still my emotions and thoughts, so that I can focus on what you want to say to me today. Amen
Read: Luke 8:41-56
Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying...... A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her…. touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.... he took her (the young girl) by the hand and said, 'My child, get up!' (41-54).
Encounter: Serenity
Imagine for a moment that you are Jesus in this story – what are you thinking? 'I must hurry to the little girl before she gets worse. It’s so difficult to get through the crowds. What will I say when I get there? What will my Father do? Oh, what was that? I felt power leave me. Don’t get distracted, I haven’t got time to stop. But I need to deal with this woman.... so pleased with her faith..... Now hurry. They’re saying the little girl has died. Perhaps it’s too late. Should I go anyway? What will be the repercussions if she lives? I don't want to attract more attention right now …….'
Of course Jesus didn’t think like that, as you and I might have. We tend to live with low level anxiety, thinking about what we might have to deal with, working out the best way to handle it and trying to exercise some control over what might happen. Jesus wasn’t like that. He was calm, at peace, could trust himself entirely into God’s hands and had God’s wisdom to deal with different situations as they arose.
Jesus said that the young girl would be well, but people laughed at him. He asked all but the girl’s parents and three disciples to leave, and simply said, ‘Child arise’. And ‘she got up at once’. A remarkable demonstration of quiet power.
Apply: ‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and love and of sound judgement and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control (2 Tim1:7 AMP). As we learn how to trust God to work in and through us, he supplies what we need to function well in stressful situations and then we can become a blessing to others.
Devote: Lord Jesus, you are so amazing and know how to deal with many differing situations. I trust you to give me a sound mind and an inner peace to meet the situations that arise in my life today.