On one otherwise-normal summer evening, I was casually sitting in my living room when I suddenly heard a strange commotion and uncharacteristically loud yelling coming from the backyard. Alarmed, my daughter and I jumped up and quickly scrambled to the back door. Our curious rush, however, came to an abrupt screeching halt as I immediately froze in the midst of the doorway. A chilled breeze blew across my face, and my eyes widened in surprise as I scanned the scene in front of me attempting to comprehend what was happening.
The sky above was the strangest color of greenish gray that I have ever seen in my entire life ... all of which has been spent living in the southernmost part of Tornado Alley. The thick dark clouds were clumped up in curdled layers and churning at a rapid rate as far as my eyes could see. The loud sound of rustling leaves turned my attention to the fact that two large trees were simultaneously blowing in opposite directions toward each other. Even though they were less than 10 yards apart, one tree blew due east and the other leaned directly west.
My astounded gaze was broken by the sound of yelling again as I noticed that Scott and our son were standing on the far side of the yard not only pointing at the sky above our home, but speaking very sternly to it as well in no uncertain terms. I then cautiously stepped through the open doorway, took a few steps out onto the patio, slowly turned around, and looked up with great shock. There it was ... a large white triangular funnel cloud forming directly over our roof. It wasn't faraway up in the sky above our whole neighborhood; it was right there, hovering above the roofline, writhing and turning, and attempting to descend onto the top of our home.
In that one profoundly impactful fleeting moment, I had a decision to make. Was I going to succumb to a gripping fear and the lying illusion of powerlessness, or was I going to trust God, exercise my inherited authority, and practice walking out my faith? Not only that, but I was acutely aware that my actions would also be used as a life-altering example to my then-young daughter who was still standing in the doorway watching my every move.
We had two choices. We could run back in the house and allow the tornado to wreak havoc on our home, or we could step outside and forcefully prevent it from doing so. So we calmly sat down in the doorway and joined the guys in prayer and declaration thereby commanding the storm to dissipate ... which, of course, it did.
So pray protection over your homes and your possessions this day in the name of Jesus Christ, pray strength over your children and family and friends, pray prosperity over your businesses and your community, pray salvation for our nation and our rightful leaders and the world. This is our inheritance from the Lord.
And [Jesus] arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
Mark 4:34
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
John 14:12
