The Lord gave at least three of us this message during our week of debrief with the entire squad:
Walk on Water
What does that mean?!
Well, I’ve just reviewed the Bible story. Here it is with some thoughts and questions added in.
This is what I know to be true. Now it’s time to actually live it.
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side. He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it…
Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus usually doesn’t do what people expect, and yet FAITH is all about EXPECTING God to show up and do something seemingly impossible!
Am I aware of what God is doing? Have I asked Him? Am I looking for opportunities to learn or to share with others?
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Jesus will always invite us to join Him. He welcomes our participation in what He is doing.
Again, have I asked Him what He’s doing and demonstrated a willingness to get involved? Am I ready to step out into the unknown?
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
When Jesus tells us to do something, He also gives us the POWER to do it!
God, what awesome-ness do You want to reveal to me? How do You want to use me?
Oh, how I want to be trustworthy! I trust You!
But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid
We must keep our eyes on Jesus rather than focusing on the circumstances.
Do I really trust Him?
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
When our faith does falter, we’ve got to reach out and call on the Only One who can save us.
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me, time and time again! I can trust You!
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Amen!
As I have grown in intimacy with the Lord this year, I have been pushed out of my comfort zone, and He has been there beside me all along. He has empowered me to say and do things that later I think about and go, “Wow!” He has offered me the FREEDOM to follow Him. The first and only real act of FAITH required of me is to be intentional about seeking Him.
Just as we (my team and I) Asked The Lord about where to go for ministry this month, we have also scheduled in Ask The Lord days, where we will do simply that. We will pray and wait for Him to give us visions, names, ideas, directions. We fully EXPECT Him to reveal His heart and His plan to us. And we will boldly obey because we are confident in His strength and His love.
So, I still don’t know what exactly it means
to walk on water. But I do know that God told me to do it, and I want
to do it! I guess I’ll just hike over to the Danube River …
