Christ Church Daily Devotion Jan 14 2024

The sermon discusses the story of Noah and the great flood. It emphasizes how God saved Noah and his family, as well as all the creatures, from the flood. The flood was a destructive event, but it also provided an opportunity for God and humans to start over. The sermon encourages us to trust in God's presence and guidance during and after the storms of life. A prayer is provided to thank God for carrying us through life's storms and to ask for continued strength and guidance. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for January 14th, 2024. Today we will be reading from Genesis chapter 8 verses 15 through 19. Then God said to Noah, Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you, the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground, so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it. So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives, all the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds, everything that moves on land, came out of the ark, one kind after another. As I was developing this sermon series on hope during the storm, I kept being drawn to this story of the great flood, the greatest storm that humanity and the whole creation has ever faced. The humans had become so evil in all of their thoughts and actions that God had to put a stop to it. Thankfully, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord, Genesis chapter 6 verse 8, and obeyed God and his instructions for saving all of creation. Though the flood was extremely destructive, it also provided an opportunity for God and humans to start over in our relationship. I do not know how much God guides the storms of life, if at all. I just know that they are part of life in the midst of a fallen creation. They come as literal weather events, but also in many other ways. Some of them are very destructive, but no matter what they have left in their wake, the Bible reminds us in many places that God can give us a new start in life. God can help us to pick up any pieces that are left from the storm and move forward with new life and new opportunities. Let this scene of Noah, his family, and all the creatures coming out of the ark remind you today of God's guiding presence with you in the midst of and after the storm. Today's personal worship option, consider this prayer or one like it in your own words. God of Noah, I thank you that you have carried me through the storms of my life. Help me to always remember that you are with me and will see me through and beyond in other storms that may come my way. Through Christ, amen.