After the series of dreams God gave me last week, I have been careful to watch my time and make sure I am putting God first in all things, no matter what I am doing. I have, as the word says, made sure my mind was stayed on God at all times.
One night this week I was moving some things around in my house. I worked on this for a couple hours. I was standing on a ladder in my garage putting some things away when the dream I had kept coming before my face. Specifically the part where I was busy doing things for the house and missed the wedding. I quickly said ‘oh my’ and got down off the ladder. I came back into my house, turned on worship music and began to pray and ask God how I could rightly discern when and what to do and still keep him first and foremost. Within moments His tangible presence showed up and I knew He was simply saying to me ‘okay, it’s enough, come spend time with me.’
A scripture came to mind as I prayed and worshipped God. It is found in Matthew 14:25-32; 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.
As I continued to listen to the Lord, it was as if He showed me a map and pointed and said ‘here is where you are, in the middle of the sea, walking on water.’ We, as the body of Christ, are at the same place Peter was…Jesus has said ‘come’ and we have stepped out of the boat…now, we must watch out for the winds and not allow them to distract us or cause us to become fearful.
Distracting winds can come in all kinds of ways, through people, our jobs, our families and even through things that need to be done and are good things to do. We simply have to continually pray and rightly discern the season we are in. We need to keep God first and foremost in all decisions and plans. We have to watch out for distracting and boisterous winds.
A word study revealed to me the meaning of the word boisterous. I found it to mean strong and mighty winds, just as I would expect. However, as I dug deeper I found that it is from a root word meaning ability, force, strength and might. Yet, I couldn’t stop looking, so I dug a little deeper to find the final root word is echo and it means; to lay hold of in the hand, as if to wear it, to take possession in your mind, to hold fast and keep, to join oneself to a thing or person.
God was showing me that we, as followers of Christ, are spiritually walking on water with our faith, as we do, often the winds of distraction will begin to blow, at times they are boisterous. At times they become strong and mighty and it is very difficult to keep your eyes on Jesus and His word – but keep our eyes on Jesus and His word we must. If we keep our eyes on Jesus we will absolutely lay hold of all He has for us, we will hold fast to it. However, to do that we must become one with Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit. Join ourselves to them.
In John 17:20-22 Jesus says; I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;…
Jesus has given us, as He shares in this scripture, the same glory God gave Him. We have all we need to become one with Him and the Father and walk just like Jesus walked….on water, without fear, and without allowing winds of distraction to deter us or cause us to sink.
The winds come because you are walking on water. Look again at the scripture in Matthew 14:32; when they got in the boat, the wind ceased. The wind is there to stop you from reaching your destination – it does not have the power to stop you – as long as you keep your eyes on Jesus and keep walking.
Today God is saying to us… ‘you are walking on water, don’t stop! Keep your eyes on Jesus and His word, don’t look at the boisterous winds…pay no attention – eyes on Me, attach yourself to me so completely that your life echo’s my life…and keep walking.’
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