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Walking on the Water

  • Peter answered him and said, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.' He said, 'Come!' Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' Matthew 14:28 WEB

    Every Christian knows that Jesus walked on the water, but someone else did as well, Peter. Jesus and Peter were walking on the water together, while the other eleven disciples stayed safely in the boat.

    Even though Peter was willing to risk it all, when he started stretching his faith and stepped out on the water to come to Jesus, doubt and fear came strongly against him and caused him to start sinking. Peter later had to face that fear again when he denied Jesus three times on the night of the crucifixion. Still, when Peter cried 'Lord save me!', Jesus immediately took hold of him.

    Peter had faults, doubts, and fears, but he got out of the boat and walked on the water while eleven others thought he was crazy. Peter was still useable by God even though he had these problems, as long he did not let the problems hold him back. As soon as he started listening to the wrong voices in his head, he began to sink.

    God will use you right now, just as you are. Yes, He loves you too much to leave you that way, and He will change your life and desires, but that is a good thing. In my life, there is usually one thing at a time that God is dealing with me on.

    We all know what that one thing is when it repeatedly comes to our mind, and every sermon that we hear touches on it. Each time you open the Bible, there is a scripture on it. Work with Him, and like a splinter in your finger, let Him get it out and you will feel better.

    Most of my life I have felt unqualified. God intentionally pushes me into deeper and deeper things. Each time that I would catch up and start to feel confident, He would smile and push me into deeper water and I would panic again.

    Just a simple farm boy with no education, I soon found myself building load-balancing Linux mail clusters in data-centers and other technicians calling me for advice, and no one for me to call on but God. It was all to prepare me for the work that He has in store today, but even now He continues to push me into deeper things. I am always on the edge, rarely confident, and after decades, it has grown to be the normal.

    The only thing that I am confident of anymore is this: God will bring you through anything that He brings you to. It really does not matter what it is, He will equip you on the fly and make you shine as long as you do not let your own fear and doubt hold you back. If you step out on the water, He will put a rock there.

    The Lord still calls those who are willing to leave the safety of the boat and take a risk. But when you step out in faith, doubt and fear are going to attack your mind. Expect this. And if you start sinking, don't panic, just cry out to the Lord Jesus. He is not going to let you drown. If you begin to say that you cannot do this, then you are defeating your own self and will sink just like Peter did. Hold onto God, you can do this because God is with you.

    Prayer: Father I am holding on to You! Please help me stay the course for I put my trust in You. Lead me into all that You have for me. Take me into deeper water, in the name of Jesus Christ.

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24 comments
  • 2
David and Dianna Wyles
David and Dianna Wyles How did you know I had that splinter in my finger? LOL AMEN! Amen!!!! Amen!!! I am rarely confident and often in panic mode, but I do have certain truths that I hold tight to to keep my panic in check! I know that fear and doubt come from the enemy and is not of God. I know that when I am trying to get closer to God the enemy tries even harder to distract me with fear and doubt. I know God's plans are for a hope and a future so when fear and doubt start knocking I can know it's lies and not answer back or answer back with scriptural truths to calm the anxiety. Isn't it good to know when we are sinking we have something to hold on to!?! Thank you for your inspired words today. Pastor's Prayer: Father I am holding on to You! Please help me stay the course for I put my trust in You. Lead me into all that You have for me. Take me into deeper water, in the name of Jesus Christ.
December 19, 2015
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Cynthia Nortey
Cynthia Nortey He has always promised us, he will never leave or forsake us. God bless you Pastor...Happy Holidays to you and your family. 
December 19, 2015
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Rachael Burke
Rachael Burke Amen Lead me Lord where you want me to go, thank you my God
December 19, 2015
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Penelope Rhome
Penelope Rhome thank you Lord and pastor Dion amen
December 19, 2015
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Belinda Lee
Belinda Lee AMEN! Great teaching.
December 19, 2015
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Jeffrey Smith
Jeffrey Smithedited: December 19, 2015 Praise God!  Great read. Thank you Pastor D.    
December 19, 2015
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Sharon Leonard
Sharon Leonard I'm holding tight on to Gods Hand.Believing in total restoration of our marriage. God told me to love him out of it."BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD" Psalms 46:10. Anything is possible with God. So, with that it is sometimes hard to get rid of that fear due to my husband keeps mentioning divorce. He cancelled Dec 11th court date because of financial consolidation that we are trying to do. I'm hoping God will change his heart and heal his mind, take the scales off his eyes. To be the husband I married 13 yrs ago and even better In Jesus Name. Everyone here have a Wonderful and Blessed Christmas Season. Much Love to You, Sharon Leonard, Hughes Springs, TX... Thank You Dion and Silvia for your obediance to The Lord.
December 19, 2015
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Carol Pady
Carol Pady  Boy can I relate to feeling unqualified.  Yet if I obey Him, He gives me everything I need to succeed!  Thank you for this reminder Pastor Dion!
December 19, 2015
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Mary Pat Taylor
Mary Pat Taylor Thank you again for a beautiful message that applies so well to my life now.  Still waiting for the Lord to open the door so I can step through.  Right now it seems like He wants me to keep working on what He has put in my heart, even though I have no idea what to do with those skills.  
December 19, 2015
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Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield Amen! Another devotionnal that I really related to!
December 19, 2015
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Carol VanBemmelen
Carol VanBemmelen Thank you Pastor Dion!!  What encouraging words......I find that many of your devotions fit together so beautifully with what other Brothers and Sisters are posting!!  Its like your paragraph ..."Work with Him and like a splinter in your finger, let Him get it out and you will feel better"  Have a blessed day in Jesus.
December 19, 2015
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Twila Stierwalt
Twila Stierwalt Amen!! I pray that I will have the faith and trust to get out of the boat.
December 19, 2015
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Karen Pasquinelli
Karen Pasquinelli Amen!  I pray that I have the faith I believe I have.
December 19, 2015
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Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson Amen!! Anen!! Amen!!
December 19, 2015
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Rose Sicilia
Rose Siciliaedited: December 19, 2015 Yes I can relate so much to this. I keep going back and forth asking for forgiveness then sinning again. When I'm at my lowest point and the devil is winning in my mind I cry out to the Lord and ask Him to remove these feelings. It gets me through that day and the next day the Lord strengthens me. I'm understanding unconditional love which we will never find on this planet. So I turn to My Savior and talk from my heart feeling like he is in my room listening only to me when the world is in chaos. But He formed me knows my personality my weaknesses and no matter what I do I know my Lord brings me through it.  I felt since I'm disabled and alone I was useless and just existing but not true. The Lord placed me here and I am able to help others who are blind or afraid or need a ride to the store. I'm God's child. It took me awhile to realize this because the devil was attacking me telling me I was useless and better off dead. Well Thank you My Lord it's not an easy one but I know He is always with me and helps me get things done. Rose Sicilia Amen 
December 19, 2015
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Gail Sellu
Gail Sellu Amen, Lord you have always shown me you are there for me,  In good  and bad times. It is me who get lost in my negativity and forget what you've done for me. Even now as I lay here in my bed with pneumonia, I have faith that you will see me through it and heal me.Thank you Lord for not leaving me. I love you! 
December 19, 2015
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Wesley Paulus
Wesley Paulus Amen! Help me to finish what I started in Jesus  Precious name Amen!
December 19, 2015
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Rosemary Marsh
Rosemary Marsh Amen. All things are possible with you Lord,we can climbe every  mountain ,when we abide in you Lord.Teach us your ways,That we will hear your voice and follow you,and do your will.In the name of Jesus.
December 19, 2015
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Deborah Alexander
Deborah Alexander Yes I needed to hear this and I need to step out into the water as well
December 19, 2015
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Iris Parlin
Iris Parlin Amen Pastor!
December 19, 2015
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Lissy Verghese
Lissy Verghese Thank you dear Pastor, for the great message!
December 19, 2015
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Michelle Toney
Michelle Toney Jesus, you KNOW i love YOU an i do my best to obey you..so PLEASE,  help me to stay focused on YOU an you only. Open the eyes & ears of my heart, mind and soul so that i will ALWAYS be awear of you an YOUR voice..in jesus name i pray, amen
December 20, 2015
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Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Only You Jesus!
December 20, 2015
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Mike OBryan
Mike OBryan Good Morning--- too busy to read this!!!!!!!  Hum O'kay, whats More Important!!!!!!!!! Preparing My Heart... Hum its always great, but My desire``~~~  Too uphold Veterans and all Disabilities....  jees Me,, I HAVE CHOICES IN EVERYTHING.... The 12 step Programs.....  
December 20, 2015