Day 61: I trust You, Lord. Going higher. Matthew 14:22-33
"Come up higher" you may have been told but how high is higher? Well it depends on where you are. Today's reading is from Matthew 14 - Peter walking on water...well...for a few moments he did. Let's look at Peter's 'higher'.
According to scripture, this event happened after Jesus fed the crowd with five loaves of bread and two fish. Of course Peter was there. He's always there. Where else would he be. So of course he witnessed this miracle.
After Jesus finished the sermon, he went up high in a mountain where he prayed. If you think about it, Jesus would often go higher to pray. Makes you wonder why huh? But any who, when he came back down, the ship was too far for Him to summon (guessing) so He decided to 'walk' to it. Mind you, a storm must've been brewing because the boat was being tossed by high winds.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Matthew 14:26-27 KJV
Oftentimes fear creeps up out of nowhere. You look up and are suddenly frightened in the situation you are in. But Jesus is never far. If you will stand still, you will hear His Spirit say, "Fret not. I am here." You can't hear the Comforter because you are too caught up in your fear. Just open your eyes. He's right there in front of you beckoning you to Him.
In fear, probably trembling, Peter decided to test the 'spirit' they were seeing. You recall you are to test the spirit right? Not everything beckoning you is of God, you know.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. Matthew 14:28 KJV
Jesus did just that. "Come, Peter," he said. And Peter stepped out of the boat. Peter was fine until the winds got a little rough around him. Here Jesus, the man who just fed how many people (?), is standing in front of Peter, and Peter let some wind distract him from the greatness standing in front of him. How is it that Peter keeps forgetting what he sees with his own two eyes!
Jesus, as usual, was faithful to Peter, even though Peter was not. Jesus probably shook his head...
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Matthew 14:31 KJV
In other words, "why are you doubting Peter? You just, JUST saw a miracle. Why are you going backwards in your faith? Come up higher!" As soon as they got on the boat, the wind was still. This entire setting was meant to be a faith builder for Peter but he failed his test. It's time for him to come up higher, not turn back.
Are you like Peter? Witnessing God turning things around for you over and over but quickly forget when the storms start to rage? Come on! You have to come up higher than that! When the winds rage, look it in the face and declare who your God is. When fear tries to sneak in, arrest it immediately and remind it who your God is. Come up higher! Don't forget what He's done for you because you are facing a storm right now. If He came through for you before, as the righteous, He will do it again.
Come up higher! Don't look back. Don't sink into your old ways. Go higher!
Soaring,
Keiyia JOYet George
Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!