I have quite a few social media sites. With that
said, unfortunately it gives people the misconception that I’m Ms. Technology,
when that couldn’t be further from the truth! For instance, as much as I use my
cellphone, I know very little about how it really functions, or how to use it to its full capacity.
And the reason why? Because outside of making a call, receiving a call, or
sending a text, I really don’t care to know much else! However, I’ve come to find out that is to my own loss. You see,
there are so many buttons and gadgets that I really don’t want to take the time
to figure out. I look at them and ignore them. And what makes matters worse is
that my phone wasn’t just handed to me. It
came in a box with a Manual for Maximum Usage! Have I read the manual?
Absolutely not!
Finally, I got tired of everybody telling me how
awesome my phone is and all the great things it’s capable of doing. So I
enlisted the help of one of my IT guys to pick his brain. And to my amazement, I could not believe all
the things I was able to do, that I wasn’t doing, only because I didn’t know I
could! I was so comfortable
with what I knew, that I didn’t want to put in the work to find out what I
really needed to know. And that
was that my comfort was crippling my capability!
However, now, at the
click of one button I can access all of my schedules (and finally avoid so many
scheduling conflicts because who knew my phone could organize my dates in
priority without my help?). With one button I can check all of my email
accounts. With one button I could have all of my social media sites on one
page. I could even control what goes on in my house, while I’m away, by my
phone! And all of this was at my fingertips, but I was too complacent to grab a
hold of its full capability!
Now, let’s see what the Bible has to say about this.
Matthew 14:25-29, “And in
the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on
the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they
were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But
immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be
afraid!” Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You,
command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come!” So
Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus."
(AMP).
All the other disciples
were just trying to ride out the storm. But Peter suddenly got a glimpse of the
power of his Master and of something supernatural he could do if he risked
everything on Jesus. And suddenly Peter was doing what people don't do. He was
walking on water!
The fact is that Jesus
may be preparing you to step up to something far more supernatural than you've
ever been or you've ever done before. In fact, if you’re anything like me, He's
made your heart restless for more so you would get out of the boat and start
walking toward Him in an exciting new way. Truth is, there are quite a few endeavors that I’ve had my heart set on
for quite a while. And fear and nervousness about stepping into something new,
uncomfortable, and unfamiliar is honestly terrifying! BUT I don’t want to miss
a moment because of a minute of insecurity.
Peter found out that day
that if Jesus wants you to do it - no matter how beyond your capability it may
be - He will give you whatever it takes to do it.
A lot of our Christian
lives are like my multi-faceted cellphone. We're settling for a level that is
far below where we could be living. We're looking at all those spiritual
buttons. Maybe we know some other people who have tapped into those
capabilities, but we're settling for a powerless life when Christ in us wants
to make our life really powerful. We're settling for the mediocre when we're
wired for the miraculous.
Look at it like this: Who
knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and apply for
the mortgage, the business, student or car loan? Who knows what will happen if
you finally decide to get out the boat and head that ministry or start a new
one? Who knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and
try that, or go there? Truth is, being inside the boat, especially during a
storm, seems like the safest, best and most comfortable, and sensible place to
be. But if Jesus isn’t in the boat, do you really think it’s the best place? If
He’s outside the boat, even in the storm, don’t you think it’s better to be
where Christ is than where your cushion is?
Are you settling for only
pushing a couple of God's buttons when there are so many more that could open
up a whole new frontier for you?
You need to be reading
the Manual. You know that's the Bible, and you need to be reading it every single
day. Not just for theology, not just
for a lesson to teach or a Word to preach. But looking for the keys to powerful
faith and then using them. And tell the Lord, "Lord, I want the
"something more" you've made my heart hungry for. Then surrender
yourself in a new, fresh way to Him. With all the things that are going on in
your life now, update that old surrender. Let go of those areas that you've
insisted on controlling. Get out of that safe little boat and dare to walk
where you've never walked before! In a nutshell: You will
never get THERE staying HERE! Yes, this requires chance, risks, the probability
that it won’t work, even failure. And yet I challenge you to try it anyway!
Think about it: Can you
imagine how David’s story would’ve turned out if he stayed
in the field with
the sheep because he’d become comfortable in what he’s used to doing? What if
Abraham decided not to leave his people and country? What if Noah decided he
didn’t want to chance looking silly building an ark? What if Moses' stutter held
him captive? What if Esther thought that she wasn’t good enough since she was
an orphan? What if Deborah said ‘no thanks, I’ll just stay in the back since
men go in the front’? What if Paul thought his past was too bad for him to have
a better future? What if Peter thought his denial would lead to the Lord’s
ultimate denial? What if Hannah decided to accept her barrenness as this is
just the cards I’ve been dealt? What if Joshua and Caleb agreed that the
majority is always right? What if Rahab thought my profession will hinder me
from protection? What if Mary said the public scandal would be too much for me
to bear, kindly use someone else?
Can you imagine the
tragedy of having their stories re-written with the pen of fear?Listen to what your manual is telling you: Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as
far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God all things are
possible.” (AMP);
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