Are You A Water Walker?

"Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” 

Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV)

Jesus made His disciples get into the boat.  Did you notice that? And while they were out on the sea Jesus was up on the Mountain praying to the Father. What do you suppose He was praying about? Do you think He was unaware of the circumstances the disciples were about to find themselves in? Of course not! He sent them ahead of Himself in that boat and knowing all things, He knew what they would encounter and He prayed.  We have an intercessor who stands before the Father praying for us. Isn't that a comfort? 

Not only did He know what they were going through but He let them go through it for awhile.  Think about that. A storm was brewing, they were in the will of God, He sent them there and yet He waited until the fourth watch of the night (just before dawn) before He stepped out onto the water.  Imagine for a second. They had been rowing against the waves fighting the wind all night, while Jesus prayed and just before dawn He steps into the storm! 

The disciples thought it was a ghost. But not Peter. He recognized His Lord in the midst of all that was transpiring around him and with eyes on Him shouted, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Jesus said "Come" as He calls for all of us when He beckon us to walk on water.  

Peter, momentarily, abandoned all for Jesus and stepped out of the boat and toward Jesus.  Peter was a water walker.  But all too quickly his eyes darted away from Jesus and onto the winds, his surrounding circumstances, and he began to sink. How often do we start out eyes on Jesus only to glance away at our circumstances? Or are you like the other disciples still too afraid to step out of the boat?  

Jesus immediately reached out His hand for Peter. You see, it's not the other way around. We can't save ourselves when we are sinking. 

But Jesus wants to grow our faith past just trusting in Him for saving faith.  He is always going to be there to save us.  “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Gently admonishing Peter and us. He wants us to learn to walk on water with Him. 

If we will keep our eyes on Jesus despite the storms, the surrounding circumstances, step out in faith and walk on water toward Him, He will lead us to the boat and stop the storms and when that happens all who witness will worship Him for they will see "Truly [He is] the Son of God.” 

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" 

Psalms 46:10 (NKJV)

What is your name?

"And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there."
Genesis 32:22-29 (NKJV)

Do you know who you are? Do you know you the way the Almighty knows you? What does your name say about you?

Jacob was given his name meaning "heel grabber" when he grabbed his twin brother Esau's heel as he was born. The name also means supplanter or trickster and boy, did Jacob live up to his name! He spent much of his life using trickery to get ahead. But he was always running, afraid something or someone from his past would catch up with him. 

With God's help he admitted his fear and determined to make amends with his brother Esau for all the wrongs he had done him. But along the way God stepped in and had a one on one encounter with Jacob that changed him forever. Once he had decided to give everything over to The Lord and face what He had been running from an Angel of The Lord showed up and wrestled with Jacob. I think He was helping to him to finally see he was no longer the man he used to be, no longer Jacob the trickster. He was now Israel, blessed by God! He was to walk in this newness of life and not in his old ways. As a reminder, He left him with a limp.

We all have limps or scars from walking in our old way of life. But God has given us a new Name if we will use it and walk it in.

I refuse to settle for less than God's best. What about you? What does your name say about you? Are you walking in the power of your own name or His?

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Philippians 2:9-11 (NKJV)