Man, when we take our focus off of Christ we can begin to sink. But why go down?
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” —Romans 8:29
It’s so easy to get distracted in our world today. So much with Social and Media flies at us daily, but when we change our main focus.. when we take our eyes off Jesus Christ and allow our minds and hearts to wander and be filled with doubt, fear, or anxiety… we can start to sink. Peter had a different focus at one point and he began to sink when walking on the water, remember? It happened, but he was rescued.
So when that sinking starts to happen, here’s what we need to do: Look to, and cry out to Jesus. Perhaps you’ve done that before?
But that’s exactly what Peter did after he stepped out of the boat and started walking across the water to Jesus…and then got all afraid inside while looking at the waves around him.
And by the way, there’s nothing wrong with crying out to the Lord.
What is in us that makes us say, “I can fix this on my own – need no one else. I can get through this. I can control this”?
Actually, we can’t. We do need God. We each at times need to call out to the Lord. It takes humility and faith.
Wat!? A man call out for help? Really? Do you mean a real man crying out? Yup!
Some might say that’s totally a sign of weakness, but I think it’s a sign of great intelligence. In fact, I think it’s a sign of lame-stupidity when we forget to, or think we don’t even need God’s help.
The Bible tells us that “immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:31 NKJV).
Have you been struggling in a fierce bout?
It’s time to live in, not out of His will. It’s time to praise and shout.
Sometimes people are tough on.. they critique Peter because he was so ambitious and impulsive. He was outspoken when others were too timid. But think about it… the New Testament in the Bible gives a lot of ink to Peter cuz he was a leader. He made many statements, far more than any of the others mentioned in the Gospels. His heart was to please the Lord.
Also, Peter is the only one who had the courage to actually try walking on water. Not only that, he did really well at first. Have you or I walked on water before? I haven’t. So let’s give Pete some credit.
Like Peter, we can do wonderful things by faith when we’re looking to Jesus—seemingly impossible things. We can do exploits by faith in Jesus, as we walk close with our first-love. But when we get distracted away..when we take our eyes off Him, we’ll start sinking down. Not a good thing.
Are you sinking downward right now? Do you feel empty, lonely, afraid, really insignificant, worthless, hopeless, neglected, or guilty, Do fear, anxiety and worry fill your thoughts today? I say pause and pray. Be candid – chat with God about it. You need to call out to the Lord. If you will call out to Him, He will reach out and rescue you. He will help you up again. But you have to ask for Christ’s help and call on His name.We can be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we can enjoy His flow and His abundant life. When we are born again spiritually, we have all of the Holy Spirit, but does the Holy Spirit have all of you?
Don’t live beneath the privilege of righteousness in Jesus.. beneath doing the will of the Holy Spirit.. with His power, victory, and blessings ..for the glory of God the Father.
You and I each day can learn more and more on how to enjoy and walk in the life and flow of the Holy Spirit! We can know Jesus well and make Him well known.. in the Spirit’s strength. I want all of God in all of me, yes so free.. and that spells victory. What does the Bible say -- well, I could go on all day.
“..as your days, so shall your strength be.” Deut. 33:25 nkjv
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…” 2 Chron. 16:9
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.” Psalm 46:1
“For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isa. 30:15
"But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isa. 40:31
“The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” Hab. 3:19
Jesus said, “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:30-31
True that – all cuz of His great love He's working.
Facts: Did ya know that daily now there are over 80,000 people coming to Jesus Christ in salvation. In fact more Muslims have biblically come to faith in Christ in the last 50 years than in the last 1,500 years. It’s true! Yet of those more than 80,000 people only 6,000 of them are in the USA and in Western Europe. Many in the Western world sadly call themselves “Nones” wanting no faith at all.
