As we navigate through increasingly turbulent times, I feel compelled to share an urgent message with you: a storm is coming, and most people aren’t ready. But here’s the good news – with proper preparation, you can not only survive but thrive through whatever challenges lie ahead. This isn’t just another warning; it’s a divine invitation to strengthen your spiritual foundations before the winds begin to blow.
Understanding the Concept of “Battening Down the Hatches”
Let me paint a picture for you. In sailing terminology, “battening down the hatches” was a crucial practice used by sailors when they spotted an approaching storm. They would secure their ship by closing all openings with wooden strips to prevent water from entering and potentially sinking the vessel.
Here’s the key insight: if you wait until you’re in the middle of the storm to secure your hatches, it’s already too late. The same principle applies to our spiritual lives. We need to prepare before the challenges hit, not during them. Think about Noah – he didn’t wait until the first raindrops fell to start building the ark. He prepared in advance, likely facing ridicule and skepticism, but his preparation made all the difference.
The Seven Spiritual Hatches We Must Secure
1. The Hatch of God’s Word
The first and most fundamental hatch we need to secure is our relationship with God’s Word. I’ve noticed that many Christians have become biblically illiterate, preferring to hear from various voices on social media rather than directly from Scripture. This vulnerability makes us susceptible to false teaching.
Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Notice the emphasis on both hearing AND doing. Satan himself can quote Scripture – the difference lies in obedience.
Let me be practical here: start with a daily reading plan. In my own family, we’ve committed to reading Scripture together, even if it means gathering at 11:30 PM to make it happen. Yes, we sometimes cut it close, but we make it a priority. The key isn’t perfection; it’s persistence. When you read, don’t just skim – ask yourself, “What is God saying to me, and what am I going to do about it today?”
2. The Hatch of Prayer
The second hatch represents our prayer life. As I often say, seven days without prayer makes one weak. Many of us never skip a meal but regularly skip prayer. We need to shift from emergency-only prayer to consistent, intentional communion with God.
Think about it: if you only pray in emergencies, you’re praying too late. The key is to pray before the emergency, preparing your spirit for whatever may come. Prayer isn’t just about asking for things; it’s about allowing God to realign your desires with His purposes.
I’ve seen this transformation in my own life. Recently, while taking communion with my family, we experienced God’s presence in such a tangible way. My daughter and I both sensed Jesus’s presence in the same spot in our kitchen. These moments don’t happen by accident, they come through cultivating a lifestyle of prayer and awareness of God’s presence.
3. The Hatch of Worship
Looking at Acts 16:25, we see Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns in prison. This teaches us something profound: your captivity always has an audience. Sometimes God puts you in situations not just for your benefit, but so others can witness how a true believer handles adversity.
I’ve seen too many believers who pray regularly but don’t worship consistently. We need both. Worship isn’t just about singing in tune, it’s about releasing your voice in praise regardless of your circumstances. Some of you have fathers who have yelled in your house but never sang in your house. It’s time to change that dynamic.
Let me challenge you: start singing in your home. Yes, even if you’re off-key. Your children need to hear your voice lifted in praise more than they need to hear your complaints. When you worship at work, take a praise break instead of just a coffee break. Let your coworkers see what it looks like when someone prioritizes God’s presence over temporary comfort.
4. The Hatch of Faith
Drawing from Mark 4:38-40, we see the disciples in a storm with Jesus sleeping in their boat. When they wake Him in panic, He asks, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Notice He doesn’t say they have no faith, He’s asking why they still lack faith after everything they’ve witnessed.
Mature faith doesn’t mean absence of storms; it means maintaining trust through them. When tragedy strikes, your first response should be, “God, you must know something I don’t know, and you must see something I don’t see.”
I’ve witnessed this in our church’s journey. When God led us to expand to Long Island, it wasn’t initially in my vision. I was focused on Brooklyn. But through faith and obedience, we’ve seen God’s larger plan unfold, including providing a beautiful building and the resources to fix its roof. Sometimes what looks like a detour is actually divine direction.
5. The Hatch of Relationships
Galatians 6:2 instructs us to “bear one another’s burdens.” In our current culture of cancellation, we need to foster a culture of restoration and reconciliation. True spiritual community means being for others what Jesus wants to be through you.
This isn’t about superficial fellowship. It’s about being true companions, people who stand with you in the fight, not just in the feast. When someone fails, our first response shouldn’t be to expose them on social media, but to restore them with gentleness. Remember, a true friend will use a scalpel, not a knife, they’ll help heal, not harm.
I’m convinced that the biggest threat to Christianity isn’t external forces, it’s Christians who don’t act like Christ. We need to move away from judgment and criticism toward genuine support and burden-bearing.
6. The Hatch of Seed
This represents the principle of giving and generosity. Luke 6:38 reminds us that giving isn’t just about money, it’s about a lifestyle of generosity that positions us for God’s provision. Fear tells us to withhold; faith tells us to give.
When you give before the storm, you position yourself to reap during the storm. This isn’t about religious obligation, it’s about spiritual positioning that secures us against fear and scarcity mentality. Just in the past two weeks, I’ve heard four testimonies of people who increased their giving and received unexpected raises at work the very next day.
Remember, Moses had to step toward the Red Sea before it parted. Sometimes your act of giving is that first step of faith that releases God’s provision in your life.
7. The Hatch of Spiritual Vision
The final hatch involves maintaining an eternal perspective, as described in Hebrews 12:2. While the world sees terminal illness, we see a future face-to-face encounter with Jesus. While others see economic turmoil, we see God’s provision manifesting in unexpected ways.
This eternal perspective should influence everything – how you spend your time, how you handle your finances, and how you interact with others. It’s about living in light of eternity rather than just responding to temporal circumstances.
In New York City, where violence and negativity often dominate the headlines, we’re called to see something different. We see a holy remnant rising, moving in gentleness and kindness, showing the world what true revival looks like.
Preparing for the Future
I believe if you can secure these seven hatches in your life, you’ll experience significant breakthrough and transition. This isn’t about avoiding storms altogether – it’s about being prepared to navigate through them successfully.
Taking Action: Practical Steps Forward
- Commit to daily Bible reading and immediate application of what you read
- Establish regular prayer times – don’t wait for emergencies
- Incorporate worship into your daily routine, especially at home
- Exercise your faith through active trust and obedience
- Invest in meaningful spiritual relationships and community
- Practice generous giving, even when it seems counterintuitive
- Cultivate an eternal perspective through regular meditation on God’s promises
Consider creating a personal audit of these areas in your life. Where are the gaps? Which hatches need immediate attention? Don’t try to fix everything at once – start with one area and build from there.
The Time to Prepare is Now
Remember, the boat is made for water, but it only stays afloat when the hatches are secure. This message isn’t about fear; it’s about preparation and positioning. We can’t control when storms come, but we can control how prepared we are when they arrive.
As a pastor and prophetic voice, I’m calling you to take these spiritual disciplines seriously. Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of a crisis to build your spiritual foundation. The time to batten down the hatches is now, before the storm hits. When we do this together, not only will we survive what’s coming, but we’ll be positioned to help others navigate through their storms as well.
This is a season of preparation, but it’s also a season of promise. God is positioning His people for something significant. The storms may come, but they don’t have to sink us. When we secure these spiritual hatches, we create a foundation that not only withstands the storm but allows us to thrive through it.
The choice is yours: will you take action now to secure these spiritual hatches in your life? Your future self will thank you for the preparation you make today.
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