Shaken

Shaken

As a child I experienced a couple of earthquakes and they were quite scary. The first one I remember was not too serious, but did shake me up because I didn’t know what was happening. I remember yelling for my mom, and we quickly took shelter under a table. All ended well, and no one was hurt. The second one however was a little different. I remember walking into a doorway and everything started to intently shake and rattle. Pictures started coming off the walls, and that is when I realized what was happening. It happened so quickly I didn’t have time to seek shelter before it ended. It ended as quick as it came, but throughout the rest of the day there several aftershocks taking place. Those of us in the house were not harmed, nor was our home. We were though pretty shaken up, and it’s something I will never forget and hopefully won’t experience again.

Paul and Silas in Acts 16:22-34 also experienced an earthquake while they were imprisoned. “And the crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrate tore their robes off them, and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely and he having received a command threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there came a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. And when the jailer had been roused out of his sleep and had seen the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice saying, “Do yourself no harm for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.”

Here is a story of an ordinary person living his life, doing his job and suddenly everything was changed by an earthquake and all that God, Paul and Silas had done for him. This is what needed to take place for this jailer to be saved. God knew this jailer’s “foundation” needed to be shaken for him to turn to the Lord. We all will come to a point in our life where our foundation will be shaken and rattled. When things that once seemed in control and taken care of are no longer feeling secure. That is when each person has the choice to choose the Lord for their foundation or not.

Has your foundation been shaken lately? Do you feel that the Lord is trying to get your attention? God loves you so much that in John 3:16 He tells us this: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.” God loves you so much and has a wonderful plan for your life. You were created by God and He longs to be in your life. If you desire to have a personal relationship with the Lord please pray this prayer: “Dear Jesus, I come before you as a sinner knowing that I need you. I believe you are the Son of God, that you died on the cross for my sins and rose on the third day. I ask you to forgive me of all my sins and come into my heart and life. I ask You to be the Lord of my whole life and guide me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank you for loving me and I now accept everything you have and will do for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Perhaps you already have accepted the Lord, but your relationship with the Lord is not where it should be. Know that God loves you and His plans and love for you have not changed. He desires to completely be Lord of your life. So, pray this prayer if you want rededicate your life to the Lord; “Father I ask you to forgive me for doing things my own way and not living my life for you as I once committed to do. I now re commit my life to You and vow that whatever You desire and require from me I will do. Thank you for your never-ending love and I ask You to help and guide me through each day of my life from here on out. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Know that right now God and all His angels are rejoicing over you in Heaven for your obedience to Him. Know that the rest of your life is truly just beginning, and Gods mercy, grace, goodness, favor and love will follow you as you follow Him.