Fearless - Day 22

“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.  30 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 14:28-31

Focus is a very powerful thing.

At the invitation of Jesus, Peter left the safety of a boat in a storm and walked on water! It wasn’t Peter’s determination that held Him above the waves; it was the power of Jesus, who called him out of the boat. It’s here that we discover the extraordinary importance of focus! In spite of the fact that he had actually walked on water, when Peter turned his attention from Jesus to the conditions around him, he became afraid and began to sink. (Hey, give him a break…he got out of a boat and walked on water!)

This is why 1 Thessalonians 5:17 instructs us to “pray continually.” When we pray, our focus is on Jesus; and we find ourselves operating in a different power. Things that might otherwise cause us to sink become the platform for our greatest victories! When Peter did falter he cried out to the Lord (prayed) and discovered that he’d been safe the entire time because he was with Jesus.

What if, for you and I, that kind of fearlessness is only a prayer away?

For Reflection: Has the Lord ever invited you to “get out of the boat?” Did you do it? Why, or why not? Pray about some of your current “rough waters” and see if they look different after time spent with Jesus.

Lord, help me to focus on You! Sometimes spiritual things seem less “real” than the material circumstances around me. As I trust You and see your faithfulness, my faith becomes sight. Teach me to pray continually, so I always remember that You are God and my circumstances are not!

Fearless - Day 21

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.”Matt.14:26-27

What do you do when God shows up in really unexpected ways? I completely understand the disciples fear in this passage. They’re in the middle of a huge lake, in a storm, and someone begins to emerge out of the darkness…walking on the water! They’re terrified because it does look like a ghost! While it is comforting to find out it’s the Lord, there’s not really a sense of, “Oh, don’t worry guys. It’s just Jesus.” Because He’s still WALKING ON A LAKE!! That’s not normal!

That is exactly the response we should have. He is not normal; He is God! It’s moments like these that a healthy fear of the Lord should surface, as we remember who He truly is. He does not work the way we work. He is not bound by the limitations that we experience. Too often, we try to bring God down to our level and expect Him to work the way we do. When you think about it, that’s kind of ridiculous.

Take comfort in His love, His presence, and in the fact that He is all-powerful. He’s not like us and that's a very good thing.

For Reflection: Do I expect God to work within the “normal” channels of our human systems? If so, why? What does this say about my view of God? What about God working in supernatural ways might make me uncomfortable?

Lord, I thank you that You are all powerful. Forgive me for the times I try to put You in a box and limit You to what I can define and understand. I invite You to work in my life however You see fit. You are God and I am not. I trust You, and that trust means I don’t have to be afraid.

Fearless - Day 20!

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?” Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5:35-36

Sometimes being fearless requires ignoring the voices around you—even the well-meaning voices of “reason.” These voices will remind you that the prognosis is bad, the marriage seems hopeless, or you don’t have nearly enough to meet the obligations. And, sadly, these voices may be accurate! But, the fact that they are accurate, based on what we see today, doesn’t mean they are right. Very simply, any voice that leads you to be afraid doesn’t see the whole picture.

That’s what belief is all about. It means trusting what Father says more than what I see. Sometimes fear does seem to be the only reasonable response…until you remember the promises of God. Faith, in Him and His word, is like a set of lenses, which allows you to see a much larger reality with an infinite number of divine possibilities.

When fear comes knocking, the first question should be, “What has God said?” Then, take Jesus’ advice: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

For Reflection: Where, in my life, have I equated fear with responsibility? What does God say about the things I fear? If I truly believed Him, how would my response change?

Lord, we live in a world full of voices; and, many of them are voices of fear. I thank You that I am never alone. You are always with me. Teach me to silence the voices of fear so I can hear You. Help me to listen for what you say and then stand firm on your promises. When you are with me, I don’t need to be afraid!