April 25, 2024

Keep Your Eyes On Me

July 3, 2015 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.  Later that night, He was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  Shortly before dawn 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.”  “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.”  “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:22-33 NIV

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How many times have you heard this story?  (If you’ve grown up in church, I know you’ve probably seen a felt board or two with this story demonstrated.)  These stories never get old though.

In this story, Jesus had just finished performing miracles and He sent His disciples on ahead of Him in a boat.  As they continued on, there came a storm and winds.  Then Jesus started to walk out there to them…yes…He walked on water.  In fact, the disciples thought He was a ghost!  The thing to remember is—Jesus knew that there was a storm coming but He sent them on anyway.  Maybe it was that He wanted to prove to them that He was stronger than any storm.

Jesus really is bigger than what you are going through.  And He knew, too, exactly where you would be today.  Are you going to trust Him?  What if He asks you to walk on water…like He asked Peter?  Would you stay afloat with your eyes on Him or would you sink in your circumstances?  Oh, friend, Jesus wants so much for you to trust Him, and to look to Him, and know that He is able to calm any storm or still those crashing waves around you.  Take that first step of faith today and walk out onto the water and meet your Savior!  Then, like Peter, you will say “Truly You are the Son of God!”

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Do you know Him?  He knows you and He wants you to know Him.  I hope you will pray this with me today…

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son and that He died on the Cross for my sins.  So I ask You to come into my heart and be Lord of my life.  Help me to walk closer to You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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My Strength for the “Impossible”

August 25, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob.
Psalm 81:1

How?  That’s a question I ask myself often when reading the Word of God.  I want to know exactly how things are going to work…down to the tiniest detail…and then, if it makes sense to me, then I’ll trust.  However, God is Almighty and Sovereign, therefore He make promises that seem impossible to the natural part of us.  And I don’t always have the luxury of knowing every detail.  I simply have to trust God’s Word, regardless of how things seem in the natural.

How am I supposed to trust in something that makes no sense to me?  How do I keep up the momentum to do something that defies what I know to be possible? How did Peter walk on the water? How did Jesus face the cross?

Let’s take a look at Peter,

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:27-31

Peter was able to walk on water because of his focus and trust in Jesus.  God is our strength; nothing else can sustain us like the Father.  God is the spiritual version of caffeine—except there’s no type of crash afterwards and you can’t build up a tolerance for Him.

Jesus relied on the Father to strengthen Him during, what I feel, is the most challenging and seemingly impossible thing God could ask a person to do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful that Jesus died for me, but one man to die for ALL mankind…that doesn’t make sense.

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.
Luke 22:42-43

If Jesus saw it fitting to lean on God as His strength, then we should, too!  If God would strengthen Jesus, then He will do it for us, too.

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Lord, thank You so much for being my strength in good times and bad. Amen.

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Oceans

August 19, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjvYou call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Performed by Hillsong United
Songwriters: Matt Crocker, Joel Houston, Salomon Lighthelm

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In Matthew 14:25-32, Peter walked on the water with Jesus.  Just imagine seeing Jesus out on the water and crying out to Him and asking to walk as He was on the water….  Then imagine being told by Jesus to come and walk on the water with Him! I would imagine that Peter was intrigued and excited to experience walking on water. Once out of the boat and walking with Jesus, Peter, felt and tasted the salt spray, smelled more intently the water, and I would imagine the waves picking up and moving greatly would make him afraid.

…Then I think of how this account can be applied to mine or anyone’s life. As we go through life, we will have moments where we are so excited that we will jump in and not think of consequences. And, sometimes, God wants us to take those risks and to trust Him fully. I pray that this song will speak to you, encouraging you to follow God more fully.

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Father, help me become a more fully devoted follower.  Help me to seek You even when I doubt. You are there for us—just waiting for opportunities to show us how to push through and to show off Your awesome power. I pray for those who are hurting. I pray for those who are happy. I pray that they are all seeking Your Will for their life in all that they do.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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