Peter is a man after my own heart. I feel a certain bond with him. Perhaps, it is because he reminds me of myself at times and my friends and family at other times. Or it could be that I see Peter in all of us as we walk the Christian path and strive to serve Christ obediently, and yet, possessing shortcomings that can become our own stumbling stones.
We commend Peter for attempting what we might consider the impossible. Water, after all, is not cement or paved road. But he did actually walk for a certain space across the turbulent waters. How was he able to do this? It was simply that he had his eyes on Jesus, the symbol of victory, approaching through the storm. Faith identified him with Christ and endowed him with divine power. It is an example of faith in action, for it brings life into harmony with the creative will. Such faith is the victory that overcomes the world. In that moment of utter and complete identification with Christ, Peter achieved the impossible.
But, when he took his focus off Jesus; when he began to focus on the storm, he began to sink. How sad to fail after having started successfully. This scenario mimics our own does it not? So often we begin well but become distracted by negative forces. We allow our fears and unbelief; our overconfidence and feigned self-sufficiency to capture us and bind us in the psychological tomb of defeat. Peter recovered and so can we. He readjusted his eye focus. Once rid of his self-assertiveness and self-sufficiency, and acknowledging his need, his danger, his weakness and his folly, he looked at Jesus and cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus saw him and immediately lifted him up. It was not Peter's faith, but his faith in Christ Jesus that saved him. When he called, Jesus responded.
Our Lord told us to ask and we will receive and to knock and the door would be opened for us. Because the winds of temptations are so strong, we must ask God for the victory that only He can give. We call upon Him to help us to keep our vision clearly on our Savior and our hearts attuned to His holy word.
By faith we live in Him and enjoy His true victory.
Scriptural Reference: Matthew 14:30.
Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, is expected to be available soon.
You are welcome to visit amen ministries: your soul's service station for spiritual refreshing, soul edification, browse our newly expanded mini shopping mall or review our recommended books you may want to add to your personal library.
Blessings to all!
tidy up service Glenview ..I once read a story about a Catholic priest who... Read More
"Our mind is capable of passing beyond the dividing line... Read More
In this series I would like to take you through... Read More
Michael Shermer speaks with the energy and passion of an... Read More
Are you facing some challenges in your life right now?... Read More
Imagine the Bible is a sharp and deadly double-edged sword,... Read More
The "Left Behind" series is inspiring, in that it makes... Read More
If any man be in Christ, he is a new... Read More
Angels, those divine beings of love and light, are here... Read More
THE PREMISEFeng Shui is an ancient Chinese art that has... Read More
Animal spirit totems can be viewed in different ways according... Read More
In a recent case study which I also summarized in... Read More
It's late. But it's usually those words that you cannot... Read More
How did an artist accidently learn healing visualizations and improve... Read More
Greetings my Dear Beloved SoulsWe have heard your cries, your... Read More
You are a Creative Worker:God carries on creative work through... Read More
"Let me take you down to a town called Paradise."Van... Read More
At the start of your dream journey, one of the... Read More
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on... Read More
Are you at a crossroad in your life where you... Read More
Hopefully you're reading this article because you're intrigued by the... Read More
I very often see rants, complaints, wishes and dreams that... Read More
You may ask, "What are hot buttons anyway?"Hot buttons are... Read More
1. Raphael means "God heals." Raphael heals physical, emotional and... Read More
Fanny J. Crosby's famous hymn, "Tell Me the Story of... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..1. Gabriel means: "God is my strength" or "God is... Read More
Water of Enlightenment, Angel of Peace and Harmony for Nature... Read More
I am sure many of you reading this article have... Read More
I had visions of my daughter for about five years... Read More
According to H. G. Bosch, the newspaper cartoonist H. T.... Read More
Most forms of psychotherapy I know either tries to help... Read More
Do you know where your current path is taking you?Education,... Read More
"Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because... Read More
Do you spend your time working towards that "one day... Read More
I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More
I thought for sometime that I was hard done bye... Read More
Many of us have been taught that it is wrong... Read More
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA: Of course we may never know the real... Read More
Liam says to Joe; "where is your God now, when... Read More
In this series I would like to take you through... Read More
Burn out, it can happen to anyone. Some of the... Read More
After more than three decades of church ministry, I have... Read More
"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my... Read More
The Tarot is not just a divinatory tool, but it... Read More
There's a lot of talk about angels these days. They're... Read More
That we must live with imperfections is a fact of... Read More
Are you facing some challenges in your life right now?... Read More
... Read More
Sometimes showing up for life can seem like a major... Read More
It happens to us all from time to time, especially... Read More
Spirituality |