Walking without Sinking I

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare 

Walking without Sinking I

Saturday, 10 August

 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 14:22-32 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

 

MORE LESSON: Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

The process of Peter’s sinking comprises three things. First, he looked off the Master and concentrated on the storm. Looking off the Master introduced fear and the result of the fear was the sinking. Each time a man sinks in destiny, there is a progression to the experience. Whatever succeeds in making you look off the source of strength sinks you. Do not allow anything to take you away from the Lord because to look off Jesus is to lose sight of confidence and strength.

The first consequence of looking off Jesus is the entrance of fear. Looking off Jesus opens the door for the thief to come in and the thief only needs a short period of time to steal, kill and destroy. You will not be a victim, in Jesus’ name; this is why your focus must be on J e sus unwaveringly throughout life. The moment Peter changed the object of his focus, he saw the storm. When he wasn't seeing Jesus anymore, he started seeing the storm. Remember, the storm didn’t just appear, he began to focus on the storm because he lost focus of the Lord. He started from a position of seeing the storm alongside with the other disciples before Jesus showed up. They all were looking at the storm until in the midst of the storm, he saw someone walking on the water. Immediately he found the supernatural sight of Jesus walking on water more captivating than the raging storm, the picture of the storm played down in his consciousness. In fact, as he concentrated on the miraculous sight, he so much forgot about the storm that he asked Jesus to bid him walk on the water in the midst of the storm. Then all of a sudden the devil reminded him, 'What do you think you are doing on the water with a storm as mighty as this blowing around you?' Immediately he remembered the storm, he forgot about Jesus and the miracle he was experiencing, and all he could remember was the storm.

Do you know that it is you who chooses what you want to see in life? Then what you choose to see determines whether you walk or sink. What sinks men is not the problems of life but their reactions to the problems. It wasn't the storm that actually made Peter to sink, it was the image of the storm. He allowed the image of the storm to overshadow the image of Jesus in his consciousness. Jesus is busy doing something in your life and the devil too is busy making his own noise; it is who you choose to see that wins in your life. What opened the door for Peter to sink was not the storm but his giving attention to fear by choosing not to see what Jesus was doing anymore. You will not sink in destiny, in Jesus’ name. But you must mind your sight, ear and mouth.

 Prayer/Action

* Pray that you will continue to fix your eyes on Jesus never to look away.

 * Pray against distraction.

 * declare that starting from today only God's favour you will see and hear enjoy.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Satan, the blood of Jesus is against you over my destiny, family and future, in Jesus' gracious name.