Page 19 - August2012GoodNewsEdition

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Have you ever watched little
kids play? Sure, we all have. What
is one qualitymany of themhave in
common? They all take risks; they
have little fear meeting and
interactingwith total strangers, are
more than are willing to jump out
of swings at maximum height,
climb
and
maneuver
over
playground equipment, and even
try wild acrobaticmoves with little
to no regard for their own safety!
I used to live in a subdivision
with lots of kids under the age of
10.Many of themwould play in the
street or run from yard to yard
chasing each other. One thing they
all could do was perform
gymnastic moves like back
handsprings and flips…all of them!
I called themthe “gymnastics gang.”
One day I asked them, “Who
taught you to do those flips and
back
handsprings?”
They
confidently said, “No one, we
taught ourselves!”
I thought to myself, “Wow, it
takes some guts for them to try
those stunts. What risk takers!”
Interestingly enough, God
wantsHis children to take risks too;
no matter how old we are, how
dangerous somethingmay seemor
how fearful we may become. The
Bible says, “…it is impossible to
please God without faith. Anyone
who wants to come to him must
believe that God exists and that He
rewards those who sincerely seek
him” (Hebrews 11:6). When God
prompts us to do something by the
tugging of the Holy Spirit, He
wants us to walk in simple
obedience, even if it seems illogical
to our natural reasoning. Does that
meanwe bypass all common sense
and throw it out thewindowwhen
making a decision? No, but God
speaks to us in our inner being –
deep down on the inside of our
heart. Many times, we try to figure
everything out andwant it tomake
sense to us before we will even
consider following God. After all,
why would God ask us to do
something that is uncomfortable,
scary or beyond our control?
Jesus had to teach His own
disciples how to follow Him by
faith and not by sight. The 12 had
just seen Jesus miraculously feed
5,000 people with five loaves of
bread and two fish, and then were
asked by Jesus to get in a boat and
go to the other side of the lake. The
book of Matthew records,
“Meanwhile, the disciples were in
trouble far away from land, for a
strong wind had risen, and they
were fighting heavy waves. About
three o’ clock in themorning, Jesus
came toward themwalking on the
water.When the disciples sawhim
walking on the water, they were
terrified. In their fear they cried
out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to
them at once. “Do not be afraid,”
He said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if
it’s really you, tell me to come to
you, walking on the water.” “Yes,
come,” Jesus said. So Peter went
over the side of the boat and
walked on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw the strong wind
and thewaves, hewas terrified and
began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he
shouted.
Jesus
immediately
reached out and grabbedhim. “You
have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why
did you doubt me?” (Matthew
14:24-31).
Peter was the only disciple to
get out of the boat! The other 11
men stood watching, afraid to
venture out to Jesus. Just think,
Peter was the only disciple we ever
read about walking on water! He
stepped out and took a risk and
because of it, he did something
supernatural. Jesus told Peter to
come to Him on the water and
Peter obeyed.
In the same way, we need to
be responsive to the promptings of
the Holy Spirit in our lives. How
many times do we miss a
supernatural moment simply
because we are afraid to “get out of
the boat?” God is constantly calling
us, beckoning to us, even drawing
us out onto the water. But, like the
disciples, we look at our
surroundings and become fearful.
Instead of keeping our eyes on
Jesus, who is bigger than the storm,
we look at the raging wind and
waves around us and stop trusting
God. In the end, wemisswhat God
wants to do for us and through us.
I want to encourage you to be
a Peter and get out of the boat! Has
God called you to do something,
but you are too anxious to take that
initial step? Maybe God is leading
you to themission field and you are
afraid to leave your current
profession. Maybe God is asking
you to start a newbusiness, but the
fear of failure immobilizes you.
Instead of your dreams becoming
a reality, they remain a distant
thought. Or maybe you have been
hurt in a past relationship and
refuse to consider marriage again,
even though God has put a desire
in you to remarry. Again, I want to
encourage you to listen to theHoly
Spirit and GET OUT OF THE
BOAT! Godwants to lead you into
an extraordinary adventure full of
meaning and purpose. But if you
are unwilling to let Himguide you,
you will never experience the
supernatural life God called you to
live! Peter was not perfect and
neither are you. If you fall down,
God will help you get back up.
Have childlike faith and be a risk
taker! ObeyGod’s leading and start
walking on water today!
Cory can be reached at
Cory_nickols@yahoo.com.
>
- Cory Nickols -
Fearless Faith
RELEVANT
August 2012
19
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