Stand Strong in the Storm

By Lynne Modranski

During times of crisis people need hope and encouragement. This short devotion book is meant to inspire Christians as they journey through their current storm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mansion Hill Press
• Release date: Apr 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393990666

Lynne Modranski

Meet Lynne Modranski Lynne began studying scripture in her youth but learned as many rules as she did memory verses. By her twenties she questioned just about everything she’d been taught. She wanted to know the truth. To that end she began digging into scripture, and there she found freedom. Through her studies and her new relationship with Jesus, Lynne discovered her passion to teach, encourage and evangelize. When she combined that with her love to write, she found her heart on paper in songs, devotions, Bible studies and more.             Currently Lynne leads worship and small groups at Sycamore Tree Church where her husband pastors. She golfs and swims with her grandchildren and crochets and colors all winter.             She’d love to hear from you! Go ahead and send an e-mail! [e-mail]

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Introduction

With the pandemic scare of 2020 people need hope and freedom. The short meditations you'll find in this book come from devotions I've written over the past few years. A few of them will appear in a book to be released later this year. 

I pray these few readings will provide inspiration and encouragement for you as you face the trials and crisis of the present day.

We Need Our Rest

Scripture Background: 1 Kings 17-19

³ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. 

When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there

, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness.

He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.

I have had enough, Lord, he said.

Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors. 

⁵ Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, Get up and eat. 

⁶ He looked around, and there by his head

was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water.

He ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of the Lord came back a second time

and touched him and said,

Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you. 

⁸ So he got up and ate and drank.

Strengthened by that food,

he traveled forty days and forty nights

until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

1 Kings 19:3-8

Have you ever felt like Elijah, so overwhelmed with life that you just wanted God to make it all go away? When crisis hits we often feel no better than those who’ve gone before us. Family problems, job loss, illness and overwhelming debt cause us to spend much of our time worrying. When we get to the point when we feel like we can’t go on anymore, we need to take a lesson from Elijah.

When Elijah reached his breaking point, he separated himself from the crowd, poured his heart out to his Creator and spent time in rest. He didn’t do anything miraculous or mighty. He didn’t even say a wise or inspirational prayer. Elijah simply said, Lord, take me now, and then He took a nap!

Our bodies need rest. One of the first gifts the Almighty gave His creation was Sabbath. Obviously God didn’t need the break, but He took one to set the example for His beloved (that’s us). Our humanness demands a sabbatical.

If we look to Elijah for guidance as we navigate scary times, we’ll see a hearty meal is on the agenda also. After we pass from this life to the next, the need for rest and nutrition will probably be left behind, but until then, this tent that houses our eternal souls needs both sleep and sustenance.

In the midst of crisis, do you make sure your body has the proper nourishment as well as a good night’s sleep? Have you considered that God created you to have these necessities? In Elijah’s case an angel visited to tell him to eat and drink. Elijah had been running and worrying about his safety that to the point he neglected his simple daily needs.

After two good meals with sleep before and between them, Elijah got