Why I have entered the Empty Nest with confidence
1. That is the way we started – just the 2 of us and we had good times.
2. I am enjoying our time together as I did then.
3. The birds are never out of contact – in person and otherwise.
4. We have loads of stuff to occupy us….boredom is not an option.
When the Storms of Life are Raging….
5-Step strategy for responding when the storms of life are raging:
1. Approach with certainty.
2. Deal with the facts as there are now…not what they could be or have been
3. Invite Divine Intervention.
4. Take action that supports your prayers.
5. Get the support of others.
1. Approach with certainty
Research data suggests that when persons are in a state of uncertainty negative results seem to have greater impact. The blows seem to be amplified.
So from that it would appear that people who approach impending events with confidence and certainty fare better if things do not go as planned.
This is another great benefit of FAITH.
Luke 8:22-25: Jesus Calms the Storm
24The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25″Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
2. Deal with the facts…the bare facts
All too often we place ourselves in the role of a storyteller. We face one set of facts and we rush off to create situations that may not even occur. This extension of the facts produces unnecessary tension and reduces our capacity to address the facts as they really are.
Watch how you add on to what is. We tend to add on negative thoughts, not positive ones. That runs counter to the results we really want to get. It also runs counter to our prayers.
3. Invite Divine Intervention
James 5: The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. ….
Outside of invoking the power of God, prayer has the additional benefit of helping us to focus on the resolution of the issues at hand. We petition God about things that we figure will resolve the issue. It helps to direct us to the way forward.
Prayer also has the effect of calming our frazzled nerves. By appealing to a higher authority we grow in confidence and we feel better about the situation.
4. Take action that supports the prayers
When we pray we should act as is our prayers are being answered. We have to proceed with the assurance that God’s providence is going to be granted to us and all our actions should reflect that confidence.
It makes no sense to pray fervently for a particular outcome and then set about doing things that run counter to what we have prayed about. True faith requires us to act in accordance with our prayers.
5. Get the support of others
When the storms of life are raging it makes good sense to seek to weather them with the support of others. Sometimes things are just a little too much for us to handle on our own. Even the strongest of us need support at times. We should be willing to seek assistance – even just moral support when we face difficult times. That is one of the reasons for the Christian fellowship. We are to be our brother’s keepers.
Gal 6: 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
5-Step strategy for responding when the storms of life are raging:
1. Approach life with certainty.
Research data suggests that when persons are in a state of uncertainty negative results seem to have greater impact. The blows seem to be amplified.
So from that it would appear that people who approach impending events with confidence and certainty fare better if things do not go as planned.
2. Deal with the facts as there are now…not what they could be or have been
All too often we place ourselves in the role of a storyteller. We face one set of facts and we rush off to create situations that may not even occur.
Luke 8:24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
This extension of the facts produces unnecessary tension and reduces our capacity to address the facts as they really are.
3. Invite Divine Intervention. James 5: 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. …. 16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Outside of invoking the power of God, prayer has the additional benefit of helping us to focus on the resolution of the issues at hand. We petition God about things that we figure will resolve the issue. It helps to direct us to the way forward.
Prayer also has the effect of calming our frazzled nerves. By appealing to a higher authority we grow in confidence and we feel better about the situation.
4. Take action that supports your prayers.
When we pray we should act as is our prayers are being answered. We have to proceed with the assurance that God’s providence is going to be granted to us and all our actions should reflect that confidence.
Mark 11: 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
5. Get the support of others.
When the storms of life are raging it makes good sense to seek to weather them with the support of others. Sometimes things are just a little too much for us to handle on our own. Even the strongest of us need support at times. We should be willing to seek assistance – even just moral support when we face difficult times. That is one of the reasons for the Christian fellowship. We are to be our brother’s keepers.
Gal 6: 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
TrevorESSmith 