The battle for our focus in stormy times

During an extended period of prayer and fasting at the beginning of 2022, the Lord showed me how it will storm properly in the coming year. I saw how different storms, i.e. crises and tremors, would hit both Sweden and the earth in parallel. Just a few months after the Lord spoke to me, the storms, which were both spiritual, religious, economic, political and war, began to come and replace each other at an escalating rate.

I think we all know where these storms will eventually lead: a showdown between the devil and Jesus once and for all where Jesus is the clear winner and the kingdom of God will be fully manifested on this earth.

Therefore, we understand that our enemy, before his time is over, is doing everything to steal, slaughter and destroy as much as he can in people's lives.

Soon the devil's solution to all the world's shaking and crises will be openly revealed in our world by sending his "savior" the Antichrist.

It is easy, when so much around us is shaking, to be filled with anxiety and fear and lose focus, but in and through everything we will face and go through, Jesus, our good Shepherd, will always be with us and guide us.

As God's people, we do not need to focus on all the darkness, or on the storms that are now brewing, but instead learn to navigate as the Lord's sailors on a wide, open sea.

Navigating in your own power and wisdom is impossible. We therefore each need to prioritize our prayer life. In communion with the Lord we get the help, wisdom and clarity we need.

Mark 4:35-41

"And the same day, when evening had come, he said to them: Let us cross over to the other side. When they had sent the people away, they took him into the boat that he was already in. And other small boats also went with him. And it blew up to a great gale, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was filling. But he himself was lying in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. Then they woke him up and said to him, Master, don't you care that we are perishing? Then he stood up and sternly commanded the wind and said to the sea: Be still! Be still! Then the wind died down and it became completely still. And he said to them: Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith? And they were greatly alarmed and said to one another: Who then is this, since both the wind and the sea obey him?”

What can we learn from Jesus when he faced the storm?

1. Jesus had a focus: Let's get over to the other side. The goal, the focus was on the other side of the lake. Jesus had a clear goal. We also have a clear goal, our vocation, our mission.

2. Jesus rested (the rest of faith) slept safely in the boat, in his Father's presence, peace, security and confidence. We can rest in our Father's presence, trust in him, he peace, protection etc.

3. Jesus did not allow any anxiety, worry, fear or dread to enter his heart or mind. Jesus looked the storm in the eye and confronted the storm with power, authority.

4. Jesus then rebuked the disciples: why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith? Jesus wants to teach us today to live free from fear, dread and unbelief and to live in faith, trust in him, our heavenly father and God's Word.

LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

We can learn to fully trust in the Lord and choose to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit more than any other voice in the world and in the media. Jesus clearly spoke about listening to the voice of the Shepherd and not to the voice of a stranger or enemy.

“And when he has let his own sheep out, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. But a stranger they do not follow, but flee from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”, Gospel of John

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE OIL IN YOUR LAMP

I am convinced that we also need to live in regular prayer and fasting through which we draw new power, anointing and oil for our lamps. Without oil, God's presence and anointing in our lives, everything becomes sluggish, even impossible to fully obey God.

"The foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels, together with their lamps.”, Matthew Gospel

BE ROOTED IN GOD'S WORD

In addition to this, we should be rooted and grounded in the Word of God so that we are not deceived or led astray by liberal theology or any heresy. More than anything else, every day we need to fix our eyes on Jesus, our Lord, Savior and our example that we follow. Jesus spoke the Word when the devil tempted him. Jesus was the Word and lived in the truth of the Word and stood on the foundation of the Word in all situations.

“And the tempter came to him and said: If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. Then he answered and said: It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.", Gospel of Matthew

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH When our dear friend Anders Gerdmar now went home to the Lord, it hit us; We cannot know or determine how many years or even days we have left before our race on earth is over. But we can decide one thing: no matter what we face or have to go through, we can all fight the good fight of faith, just like Anders did, all the way to the finish line.

"Fight the good fight of faith, seek to gain eternal life, to which you have also been called and the good confession you have made before many witnesses.", 1 Timothy

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.", 2 Timothy

Jesus, as our shepherd, provider, protector and physician, wants to show you and me how we can walk the narrow path, how we can fight the good fight of faith. We have nothing to fear. Just believe the Word!

JOURNEY ON YOU IN PRAYER AND THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT

Let us rise in faith, through prayer, in the power of the Holy Spirit and obey everyone's calling: to preach the gospel of Jesus to a lost world both in Sweden and to the unreached peoples.

Only in Prayer and in the power of the Spirit can we fully follow, obey and do our calling. Your prayer life, speaking in tongues, singing praises, fasting when no one sees you, are crucial if you are going to win the battle for your focus.

“But you, when you pray, go into your room and when you have closed your door, pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you visibly.”, Gospel of Matthew

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that men will not see that you are fasting, but your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you visibly.”, Gospel of Matthew

FIX YOUR LOOKS ON JESUS

No matter what trials, difficulties and crises we will have to go through in the future, we know that Jesus will always be with us.

The Lord will help us and He will also help you navigate through all the stormy seas that lie ahead. Let us therefore, no matter what happens, never lose sight of Jesus. He is the one who was, is and will one day return!

"Since we now have such a great cloud of witnesses around us, let us lay aside all that weighs us down and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, and look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who, because of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross without caring about the reproach, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Therefore consider him who has endured such contradiction from sinners, so that you do not grow weary in your souls and give up.”

- Marcus Bloom

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