This is what the Lord says:
“This is the time you are to walk on the waters. My voice is on the waters. My voice is calling you forward. Do not allow the winds and the waves to toss you to and fro. Do not allow the storm to take you away from My direction and cause you to sink in the waters. Do not submit to the waves. Do not surrender to the winds. Listen for My voice, it is calling you forward. Hear Me call your name. I am calling your name to show you the way. I call you to claim what is yours in the waters. Do not be pulled aside. Do not listen to the things that will divert you away from your walk towards Me. Don’t be concerned about those negative currents that seek to pull you in the wrong direction. Listen to My voice.”
STEP OUT OF THE BOAT
“So, He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” Matthew 14:29 (NKJV).
Yesterday, we began to look at the story of Peter walking on water. It was about 3 am and the disciples were battling a storm. Fear struck their hearts when they saw Jesus walking on water. They thought it was a ghost. Jesus called out to them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”. Jesus never wanted anyone He came in contact with to walk in fear. This is because fear will keep you from fully believing God. Fear would always cancel out your faith, in the same way that faith will cancel out your fear. When you are afraid, you find yourself doubting God and losing faith. Peter cried out “Lord if it is you, tell me to come into the water”.
Peter had walked with Jesus long enough to know that if Jesus said something, it would come to pass. Jesus simply responded “Come”. Just one word. No long sermon. No fancy message. A simple command that said, “Come”. Peter now had something to exercise his faith on. A word from Jesus was all he needed.
What does this mean?
When you have a man or woman who has faith in God, they are able to tap into the limitless power of God. When we walk in fear, it is as though we have made our situation bigger than our God. It was not just Peter walking on water, it was God through Peter walking on water. We can apply this same principle to our lives. No matter how impossible it may seem, with God working through us, we can accomplish great things.
What is your Boat?
Your boat is that thing that represents safety to you apart from God Himself. Whatever or whoever you are tempted to put your trust in when life gets a little stormy, is your boat. Whatever produces fear in you each time you think of leaving it behind, is your boat. Whenever you are afraid to step out and do something, your current position represents your boat. Are you afraid of a medical checkup? Speaking to a doctor about a medical procedure? Or beginning the process of adopting a child? It could be scaling up your business or applying for a visa after previous rejections. Your current fearful position is your boat. Many are so afraid of failing, they never step out.
Step Out
What is that boat that holds you back? Success in life is not determined by your power or your ability only. It is also about your capacity to believe God, and your willingness to step out in faith.
We usually look at Peter as though he failed. But there were 11 other disciples in the boat who were bigger failures than Peter. They failed privately and quietly. It is better to step out and fail than to sit in the boat and fail. It is not sinking in the sea that is failure; the real failure is not getting out of the boat. Even as Peter began to sink, he was still rescued by Jesus. The waters may be dark, dangerous and wet, but that is where Jesus is. Jesus is not in the comfort of your boat. Taking that step of faith and coming out of the boat actually draws you closer to Him.
Further Study
Joshua 1:9 https://biblehub.com/joshua/1-9.htm
Deuteronomy 31:8 https://biblehub.com/commentaries/deuteronomy/31-8.htm
2 Timothy 1:7 https://biblehub.com/2_timothy/1-7.htm
Matthew 14:22-33 https://my.bible.com/bible/114/MAT.14.nkjv
Song
Carry me