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)

Into the Storm

"Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him."
Matthew 8:23 (NKJV)

Have you ever found yourself in a boat in the middle of an ocean and wondered how you got there. Never mind that the boat in the middle of the ocean is being pelted with a raging storm.  Do you continue to scratch your head start asking "why" or maybe at this point start to panic? I don't think any of this is uncommon to the human experience.  However, I have learned a few things in my times at sea; and yes I meant 'times' to be plural for a reason. I think we all go through seasons with the Lord where He leads us into a boat and if we are followers of Him we climb on in, no matter how new in Christ we are.  What happens next is where the difference comes in for me from my earlier walk with Christ and some of my previous storms and this one.  

"And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep." (Matthew 8:24).  The storm arose, we are not promised that one will not, but the previous verse shows that Jesus got into the boat first. So, but can rest in the knowledge that when the storm comes we will not be alone.  But here is the key difference that I want to point out that made all the difference in my storm this time, "But He was asleep." I think in much of my early walk with Christ He was asleep in me.  I knew He was supposed to be alive in me but I didn't always live like it.  This time, I am referring to the storm of my father's cancer and subsequent death, I knew Christ was alive in me and it made all the difference.

Instead of my plea to the Lord being like that of the disciples, "Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We are perishing!'"(Matthew 8:25), I was able to come to the Lord with another kind of prayer. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7).

I have to be honest, the Lord took me to a new level through this time and showed me a new fear and anxiety that resided deep within that I did not realize was there. "O Lord, You have searched me and known me." (Psalm 139:1).  He searched my heart just liked the disciples. "But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." (Matthew 8:26).  And when He had given me the answer to my fear and anxiety, He gave me victory and peace over it.

When the disciples witnessed Jesus calming the wind and sea they were astonished.  "So the men marveled, saying, 'Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'" (Matthew 8:27).  

Like the disciples, I am amazed and awe-struck at the awesomeness of my God every time He calms a storm in my life. Not because I wonder who He is, but because I know who He is.

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)