You're not Going to Drown

Today,

I am coming after fear.

As a matter fact, I’m coming after your fears in the midst of publicly fighting mines.

Yesterday, I left my job early.

Somewhere between ending the shift early and talking to God I decided I wasn’t doing enough.

That I could be doing more.

Why don’t we as children of the King do more?

How do we comfortably boast about who our savior is and all of his majesty and still do mediocre things?

How can we say we were fearfully & wonderfully created and made in HIS image, but not walk into the characteristics we have been entitled to.

“Privileged and lazy.”

“Privileged and ungrateful.”

“Privileged and ignorant. “

“Privileged and lacking discipline.”

“Privileged and afraid.”

Yesterday,

     The Holy spirit got my entire life together, and He didn’t do it dramatically. He just tapped my shoulder and throughout the entire evening echoed who He was, the things I’ve asked of him, reminded me of snippets He trusted me with a while ago, asked a ton of rhetoric questions and so sweetly said Go.

Why aren’t we obedient?

Why do we need SO many pep talks to do the things God has called us to?

Why don’t we trust that we can flow and operate in His exceeding and abundant?

Privileged, and lazy--- we don’t like, for the life of us, to be inconvenienced.

Privileged and ungrateful— He calls us friend. He ASK for relationship from us. He longs to be apart of the things we are intertwined in. What concerns us, concerns Him.. yet, we take for granted this relationship and this access to the King.

Privileged and ignorant--- there is strategy in the Word of God about YOUR life. When was the last time you read it? How do you expect to advance in the natural realm, without spiritual weapons? As a matter fact, the word of God tells us, this battle isn’t against flesh, its about spirits. That’s strategy and solution EVEN in knowing that.

Privileged and lacking discipline—get yo’ behind out of bed. Drink plenty of water, exercise, make better food choices, be organized and knock your daily to do list items out! How good are you if you are all spiritual and lacking practical wisdom? We forget that, our temple which is where the Holy Spirit dwells needs natural grooming so that you can be given your task and actually fulfill it. LACKING DISCIPLINE IN ONE AREA = YOU’RE PROBABLY LACKING THEM IN ALL.

Privileged and afraid (lets sit here for a minute)--- Honey… afraid of what? Afraid FOR what? Let’s look at one of the encounters Peter had: (Matthew 14: 22-33)

“(24) Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.  (25) About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. (26) When the disciples saw him walking on the the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

(27) But Jesus spoke to them at once, “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

(28) Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if its really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

(29) “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. (30) But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

(31) Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?

(afterwards they got back into the boat)

Let’s get something clear here with this picture:

     First things first, Jesus insisted that his disciple get back into the boat (via verse 22). So the Father himself instructed them to go to a place where (because I trust that He is ALL KNOWING) was aware a storm would be. So right now I come against the lie that wherever there is a storm, God is not. GOD IS OMNIPRESENT! He is with you prior to the storm, He is with you DURING the storm and as we can see in the encounter above, HE WILL BE WITH YOU WHEN YOU GET OUT OF THE STORM.

     Secondly, “Do not be afraid, take courage. I am here.”

     Can I be honest? I love, love, love reading the word of God. It has so many moments to laugh, cry, say “ouch”, be corrected, relearn, etc. This is one of those moments, I chuckle. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Which in my head corrects a few things:

-       If I moved in my own understanding, my logic will always cause me to see “big and powerful” as scary.

-       I don’t have to have the way out of storms, especially when Jesus is on the scene.

-       He didn’t give me the spirit of fear, but of courage. He said, “Don’t be afraid, take courage

Third, I love Peter.

     Peter is the real one. Here he is, on a boat with all of his disciples and instead of moving in the motion in which everyone else is (be careful not to always follow the group), he says, “Lord if it’s you.” Peter, the same Peter who at times has and had a bad rep, the same Peter who also is courageous for the Lord, said, “if Its you.” Put reminds me to put a demand on God today, and to be comfortable (even when in close quarter with others who know Jesus) to say, “I’m not sure, so I’m going to ask……Lord IF ITS YOU…” tell me to come to YOU.

     I love love love love that, because we love to put a demand on God and see to it that He does something, but Peter says, Lord let me come to YOU! Let me walk on water, let me experience the “more.” I don’t want just an encounter; God I want an experience… call me to the water!

Jesus says, yes, come.

Peter begins walking…and distracted—he looks at the strong waves. (We’ve all done this) and begins to sink.

Jesus grabs him, and said you have LITTLE FAITH, why did you DOUBT ME.

     If you’ve ever heard this passaged preached, most folks, focus on the fact that Peter paid a ton of attention to the storms, and it was when He took his eyes off of Jesus He began to sink…this is true. However, the angle I want to take today is this, “You have nothing to be afraid of.”

     When the storm came, while the storm was happening, and even after the storm, Jesus is and was with them. When God prompts you to DO a thing (such as walk on water) He’s going to be in and on the water WITH you. Even when you back slide, even when you get it wrong, HES WITH YOU. Even when your faith DWINDLES, He’s with you.

Icing on the cake?

Peter didn’t drown! The passage never mentions him drowning.

Peter took a chance, Peter experienced the more, Peter put a demand on God and on Himself, and He never drowned!

I pray you hone in on that today.

     Afraid for what? You aren’t going to drown here or anywhere for that matter. Ever. I come against the lie sent from Hell. Get up, and do what God has called you to do/told you to do! He’s with you EVERY SINGLE STEP OF THE WAY….even if you begin to SINK! You WON'T DROWN!

XoXoXoXoX,

Alicia Elizabeth

You're not going to drown here. Knowing that makes deep water, strong waves and everything included not seem so scary. (Because it really isn't)