“You’ve done a “Class A” job, an Oscar-winning performance of hiding your pain,” says Pastor Kurt yesterday. “Everybody sinks but no one has to drown.”
How long can you keep holding your breath?
The Life-Savior is waiting, “Come,” He says. Follow these 3 specific steps to guarantee your rescue.
Of course it is URGENT that you are sinking. You might think you’re not hurting anyone by sinking alone, but that’s not true. What they don’t know WILL hurt them and you, especially the farther you drift away.
Your first step is to decide, “I don’t want to sink anymore.” Until you make this decision, all other advice is pointless. A person has to want to be rescued.
Don’t let the weights of your pride continue to hold you under. We all sink. We are human. The Bible says, “Even the righteous man falls seven times.” What matters is coming back up. Decide today that you want to come back up.
When you are sinking it matters what you do, who you look to, and what is inside the attitude in your heart.
1.) What you do.
Cry out. Peter did it right away. You’ve decided to stop sinking so you cry out to let others know you need help. This may involve stepping out or reaching out and getting out of your comfort zone. Trade your pride for humility. Your rescue is worth it. Take that first step and ask for help.
2.) Who you look to.
Cry out to the One who saves. Peter didn’t ask the guys in the boat. He asked the Lord. He is the One and Only Savior of the world who sees and knows exactly where you are and has the power to change your life. It matters who you cry out to. Crying to your friends who only want to pity or patronize you will not help. Cry out to the One who commands the waves and the storm.
3.) What’s your attitude.
Let your heart cry be honest and clear. Peter made it short and sweet, “LORD, SAVE ME.” But know that God knows your heart, do not pretend to worship Him with your lips and your heart be far from Him. Do not try and compromise with God and do part yourself. Peter didn’t ask for a rope or a life savor. He asked for THE Savior. Let Him be your 100% Savior. Let all of your rescue and dependence be on Him. “I can’t’ Lord, but You can.” No part of you needs credit for getting out of your mess. It’s all Him.
That’s it. 3 specific steps. Who guarantees your rescue? Jesus does. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Listen to Michael W Smith’s Let it Rain while you read the truth in this beautiful narrative from Psalms describing the extent God will go to rescue you:
In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.d
14He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
19He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
You have a destiny from God.
Take a challenge from Britt Nicole’s Walk on the Water:
“What are you waiting for?
what do you have to lose?
Your insecurities they try to hold to you;
You know you’re made for more,
so don’t be afraid to move;
Faith is all it takes and you can walk on the water too.”
~
Step out of the boat so you can walk on the water. To listen to his November 8th message “Get out of the Boat” from Faith in the Gospel of Matthew #43, click here.
Enjoy Ethan Parker’s Walk on the Water, and remember, ‘the only way to quench your thirst is to know God.’
Ask Jenny how you can Be Still and know God.
Jenny Maass 