Speak to the storm!
By Amanda Shiflett
I want to take some time to speak about something that has been on my heart for some time, and hopefully bring some understanding on this particular subject that has been discussed much in recent months.
The matter I am speaking of is taking authority over and rebuking weather patterns and storms. Let me begin by saying that I do not have complete understanding on this, nor do I believe anyone does, but I will speak from the understanding and experience that I do have on this matter.
This is not a cut and dry subject, as much as there are those that would like to think it is. There are many times the Lord wants us to speak to the storm, take our authority and command it to leave. Then there are other times He wants to give us the strength & protection to ride it out, and all the “rebuking” in the world will not do any good. Paul rode out a major storm on a ship, that caused the ship to be shipwrecked, but no where do we read that he rebuked that storm. Why? Because that was not what God wanted him to do, and he knew that. Instead, he simply trusted in the Lord to protect him through the storm. I have seen both. We must use discernment in knowing what He is wanting us to do in any given situation.
Although we may not understand it, sometimes storms are being allowed by God for a certain purpose that we cannot know or understand. I know that may not line up with your idea of the way the Lord works, but it is something we see all throughout scripture. Many times, storms are demonic in origin, and they need to be dealt with by speaking to them to diminish and leave. I have been speaking to storms and seeing them diminish since I was a child, when I watched my mother do it. I have seen major hurricanes and storms diminish in moments when they were rebuked and told to go. I can remember this happening even as a very young child of 4 and 5.
Since it was something I grew up seeing, as I got older, I would take authority over many storms that came near, and many times I would see them diminish and leave or dissipate greatly. Sometimes, however, they would not. I wondered why sometimes it didn't work? As I grew in the Lord, there was a time when I came to understand that “rebuking the storm” was not what He always wanted me to do in every situation. Many times yes, but not always. At times, I would rebuke storms and command them to leave, and nothing would happen. I wondered why, and I began to ask the Lord. I sensed Him saying “I didn't tell you to do that”. I found that I needed to listen to His instruction, and do what He said to do, even if it didn't make sense or wasn't what I thought should happen. His ways are much higher than our ways. Sometimes He would say, “Take authority over it”, and sometimes He would say “Pray for My protection and plead My blood over yourself and your property”. We should not assume to believe what we do in one situation is what He would always have us to do in another similar situation. One time Moses was instructed to strike the rock, another time to speak to it. Taking authority over storms and weather is a very important thing to learn, but that does not mean we should apply these teachings to every scenario.
We need to not be so hasty in assuming that we know the heart of the Lord about a particular circumstance, when we have not even sought Him and gotten His word on the matter. Instead, let us lay aside our preconceived ideas and teachings, that may have truth in them, but may not have the full understanding of a what is happening. Let us seek His wisdom and understanding in all things. Let us learn to seek Him about any and all situations that arise, and follow the leading of His Spirit as He leads and guides for His purpose.
I believe there is a prophetic people that are arising that will learn to seek His word and His way in everything they do and say. They will learn to seek Him first before assuming to know what something means or what He would have them to do in a particular scenario. They will have a precise Issachar anointing, and will understand the times and seasons of the Lord, and what He is saying at any given time. It is time for His people to see, hear, and understand on a new level. Lord, may this anointing be released on Your people in a new way in this season!
“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.” ~Nahum 1:3
“Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” ~Acts 27:14-15, 21-25
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” ~Mark 4:39
Amanda Shiflett is a heralding voice of truth, holiness, and purity within the prophetic, and calls others to stand in a place of no compromise in their callings. She longs to see reformation come to the prophetic movement, as well as the other parts of the 5-fold within the body of Christ.
