All of us have loved ones who are being held hostage by evil forces. We need to develop and implement strategies to rescue our loved ones. By God’s grace we do have someone who is willing to intercede on our behalf in the midst of our battles. He will meet us right where we are. He is the ultimate source of our blessing and victory in life. He is worthy of our devotion, submission and dependence as we endeavor to be all things to all people that ​some may be saved.

Conflicts can arise over almost anything. But by God’s grace, we can overcome conflict by passionately pursuing peace with others, by turning away from being impulsive and selfish people, by seeking God’s honor through the pursuit of peace and by faithfully walking with God.​

Even as God uses sovereign circumstances to guide us in new directions we can still trust God with what is true. We don’t need to speculate about our future or manipulate our circumstances. Unfortunately, when we don’t trust God with the truth we end up risking everything. When we misrepresent the truth we put our families, our resources, our relationships, our future, and our testimony at risk. Instead, we need to do all we can to faithfully call on the name of the LORD with integrity knowing that ​all we have is from Him.​

We need to listen to God’s call on our lives making sure we are where He wants us to be. As we listen to His voice and follow His leading, He promises to direct our paths, bless us, and build us up in our faith. We need to do all we can to be a blessing to everyone around us, faithfully living under His clear direction. God is the one who will make us a blessing to others. He is the one who will protect us. He is the one who will lift us up to use us in a mighty way for His ultimate glory.

We all know what it means to rebel against God. We rebel against God when we go our own direction, when we disobey His commandments, when we don’t seek His guidance, when we seek our own self-interests and when we merely seek our own security. The reality is that God will always see through our rebellion. He knows how rebellious we could be and He can make things even more difficult for us in our rebellion. But I am thankful as we follow Christ that in the end God will always have His way with us to the praise of the glory of His grace.

Our ongoing rebellion against God has brought about national separation, corrupt political leadership, family division and cultural strife. God continues to overcome these conflicts by drawing people to Himself from every nation, tribe and tongue through the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

What legacy will you leave with your family as you lead? If you do not lead your family, you and your family will suffer. If you do not lead, don’t expect anyone to follow. With Christ’s help, we should do all we can to leave a legacy of hard work, sobriety, sexual purity, training in righteousness, Godly discipline, and a life ​completely surrendered to God.

Our recovery after the storm begins with worship. We can begin again under God’s favor. We can begin again under God’s blessing. We can begin again under God’s promises.

Our Heavenly Father has warned us about the wrath to come. But at the same time, He has offered His divine protection and provision in the midst of the storms we face. By God's grace He offers His immediate care for us in the midst of every storm. We need to simply enter into His gracious protection where He promises to shelter us and lift us above every circumstance. He will remember us as He leads us to a new beginning after the storm.

Our sin and rebellion against God will always bring about the righteous storm of God’s judgment. But God has provided a way for us to find peace and safety in the midst of the storm. Our faithful participation in God’s provision will secure our salvation through every storm.