Wednesday, 26 August 2009
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You Can Walk on Water!
As usual, I have read my bible in my quiet time, according the yearly Bible reading plan.Yesterday, I had a chance to read Matthew Ch.14-16. In particular, 14:22-33, it deeply touched my heart, and let me reflect about things in my life. Matthew 14:22-33 is a passage about Jesus how walks on the water: '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. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night 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 worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."'
I have a feeling that, this passage is actually talking to and about me. (omg, God is talking to me??) In a way, Peter has represented the Christians.Sometimes, we may have the courage and faith to rely on God in our Christian life. Like Peter, he took the courage and got down out of the boat and walked on the water faithfully.This is because he is walking on the still water which enables Peter to put all his focus in Jesus. Similarly, sometime when our lives are easy and stable, we are able to focus more on Jesus and hence we have the courage and faith to walk in our Christian life. However, myself like many Christians and especially Peter in this passage...We become afraid and start to sink when difficulties and problems emerge like the wind does.You might ask why? Why do we have so little faith? Why do we doubt? Don't we all experience how amazing it is to be walking with God? Don't we know that He is the God who listens and answers each of our prayers? Don't we know that He is the God who can make impossible to be possible? The answer is: YES, we do!!! But, why? It is because we have misplaced our focus to the wind like Peter did. When difficulties come into our life, we have only focused on the problems. For instance, when things happen, I will keep asking myself questions like:What is the problem? How serious is this issue? How will that affect the others and myself? How do I handle it? What are the solutions to these problems? Am I able to solve it? Is there a plan B to back up these solutions? Is that my problem, etc? Very often, we have misplaced our focus into the problem.And totally forgot that Jesus is waiting for us on the other side of the water. However, by grace, we are able to seek help from God. Like Peter, when he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried out to Jesus and seeks help! Same in our lives, when we cried out to God from our hearts, He is willing to reach out His hand and rescue you!
Why do you forget that Jesus can help you walk through the water of your problems?
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- From: felicity1988@xanga
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Comments (9)
We tend to forget because we have been brainwashed by an impatient, instantaneous culture that expects immediate results. You never see weight loss programs nowadays that tell you it could take months, if not YEARS to lose weight, which is reality, because we as a culture don't like a) Having to sit around and wait, or b) Actually having to do what's required (which usually involves a little bit of work) to get the results we want.
It's hard to remember that Jesus CAN help us through anything...on his own terms. We can ask for his help but we won't transform overnight, it's a process.
But our culture doesn't care about the process, we just want RESULTS to fall out of the sky.
[Why do you forget that Jesus can help you walk through the water of your problems?]
I don't forget but sometimes it can be a struggle to have 100% faith. For me, sometimes it's because I don't know for sure what God's will in the situation is. All you can do then is pray and ask God to strengthen you.
Sometimes we just don't have any good people to fellowship with. We have naysayers and abusers and mockers. It's hard to hear that still, small voice in a world of surround sound.
I guess it's because we're afraid to ask. But God said ask. Maybe it's because we want to find a worldly solution and do it on our own because we don't want to humble ourselves and pray for God's help. If you ask for bread will He give you a stone? No. He likes to help his people but remember when you ask, thank him in advance for His help. That's faith. The Lord provides. I know he has in my life. I've asked Him many times to get me out of a problem. Sometimes we have to act also. God will give us a clue of what to do after we ask for some help. It's true, then, God helps those who help themselves. Sometimes when we can't do anything God will do something for us. God will make a way where there is no way.
we become too impatient... we should wait upon God's will in our lives. No matter how turbulent the waters get in life. Oh, how I need it so much to wait on His timing & His will.
@BunnyHu@xanga - Thank you!
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Exactly.
Just don't forget to tell them where the rocks are.
:D