He Calms the Storm

January 18, 2021

He Calms the Storm

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Dear Members,

  The boat was filling with water as the storm raged. Anxious disciples fretted and were filled with despair. All the while, Jesus slept. Afraid, they woke Him and asked, “Don’t You care?” With full tranquility, the Lord directed the wind and waves to be calm and His creation acknowledged His sovereignty and obeyed His voice. It was a miracle.

  For years, the world has looked at the United States of America as a beacon of strength, perseverance, and unity. Recently, that structure appears to be coming undone as the “wind and waves” of many contentious and divisive issues face our nation. Daily I hear from friends, family, prayer team members — all asking various forms of “what’s going on?” and “where is God right now?” The answer of course is obvious: God is still at work and He is still sovereign. He has known from the beginning and is in complete control of all that is happening now and all that will happen. He wrote the script.

  Just like the disciples on the boat, it was easy to miss the obvious truth when it was obfuscated by fear and the distraction of the storm. For us, distractions come from every direction. It could come from a friend who relates a story they heard, a video that pops up on social media, the many news agencies reporting various versions of events with conflicting and sensationalized stories–EVERYONE is talking. But few are listening. No, not listening to the noise around them, but listening for God. To do so, it is important for us to stop and remember to be still.

  You may recognize the first part of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Less commonly referenced is how the verse continues, “I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.” This is a strong and exciting promise. Do you trust it? I’m reminded of a song I learned as a child, and one I taught my own children: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

 As we move forward–individually, as a prayer team, as a nation–we need to be still, we need to listen for God, and we need to trust His promises as He is at work. A pastor once said, “There was never a miracle in the Bible, before there was a problem.” God performs miracles every day, but are we willing to be still enough to see them?

  Into 2021 and beyond, I look forward to praying alongside you and seeing how God works His will for our blessed country. Our goal is to be here for you each day and provide encouragement for you to keep your faith in God and His plan for our lives.

  Whether you’ve been with us for twenty years or joined us yesterday, I want to reaffirm our commitment of what you will hear from us:

• God’s sovereign plans are always perfect and can be trusted.
• Our faith is strengthened and our understanding is deepened as we watch Him work.
• We remain obedient in praying for one another, our nation, and our leaders. 
• We stand firm on Biblical truths.
• We will unite in prayer around events and issues that may directly impact our nation.
• We will be present and available to our members as we work together through God’s daily plan for us.

  Ultimately, prayer is the key to strengthening our personal relationship with Jesus Christ and we will support your daily spiritual walk by continuing to provide:

• Clear, accurate and trustworthy prayer topics, informing you about the nation’s needs and how to pray.
• Devotionals and inspirational tools to draw you closer to the Lord and strengthen your relationship with Him. 
• Affirmation and assurance that God is in control.

  God is faithful. Keep your focus on Him. We will also!

Respectfully,

Jim Bolthouse
President

P.S. Are you praying B.O.L.D.? Pray with us Beside Our Leaders Daily as we lift up freshman senators and representatives of the 117th United States Congress.