Devotionals for the Heart: Reasons Why We Are Meant to Walk on Water

Meant to Walk on Water
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” 

~Matthew 14:27-29 (NIV)

Can you imagine it? The sea churning in a maelstrom. The monstrous waves threatening to consume everything. Grown men crying out for their lives. No Jesus in the boat this time. Yet, at the first glimpse of Him, lit up like a Christmas tree on the horizon, Peter believed it was the Lord, so he took a step of faith and called out to Jesus, “Lord, bid me come to you!” Jesus welcomed Peter’s request. Then, like Jesus in the form of mortal man, Peter walked on water. He did the impossible because he believed he could with Jesus.

Several years ago, I first experienced visualization prayer. A pastor, or a priest, reads a scripture passage repetitively while you mediate on it to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal a deeper meaning. You can be an observer, a participant, or a character in the story. I wasn’t sure what to expect.

The reading was “Jesus Walking on Water” (Matthew 14:22-33). During the first pass, I immediately visualized standing on the shore. I felt the sand beneath my feet and the water rushing over them. A group of twelve sandal-clad men got into a fishing boat. I was separate from them (an observer) but I could hear them speak and sensed their emotions, especially during the confusion and fear upon seeing Jesus on the water.

During the second pass, I felt a sense of determination and strength. Even as the others cried out for help, I wasn’t afraid. I knew as soon as I saw him it was the Lord. I was seeing through Peter’s eyes (as a character). I stepped out of the boat feeling confident but faltered in the storm’s distractions. I felt the pain of regret as the Lord lifted me from my peril. I embraced the Lord with a love that wanted desperately not to fail him.

In the third pass, the disciples interacted directly with me (as a participant). They sought to protect me in the rising storm. Then, when Peter saw the Lord on the sea, he kneeled and extended his hand to me. As Lord’s voice boomed, “Come!” Peter encouraged me to get out of the boat with, “Now it’s your turn.” As I took his hand he said, “Learn from my mistake.” The following message was even clearer: “Keep your eyes on Jesus!” With a holy boldness I stepped out onto the water. Even as the waves pounded, and the wind roared, I kept my eyes focused on Jesus. I could see a force field of light surrounded him as I approached, and it enveloped me into an orb of incredible peace at his embrace. I felt loved beyond measure.

Like with his disciples, Jesus loves and believes in our abilities so much that He seeks for us to believe that we can do the impossible with Him. “Whatever we ask in faith, it shall be given” (Mark 11:24 NIV). Peter didn’t walk on water alone. He walked on water with Jesus, who gave him the power to do so because of his faith. Jesus wants us to walk on water with him too, by keeping our eyes focused on Him (no matter the situation). Activated by our belief, He can show us what we are capable of through the power of His mercy and love.

Are you in the middle of an impossible situation? Do you need a miracle? See Jesus on the horizon and believe. Take that step of faith. Just as Peter said to me, I encourage you with, “Now it’s your turn [to walk on water]!” You too can learn from his mistake and remember to keep your eyes on Jesus! 

Then watch your faith in Him ignite His power within you to do the impossible.

~*~
Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia. She teaches television production at C.D. Hylton Senior High School. 

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is a member of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program, American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), ACFW Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

Mirachelle is passionate about awakening creativity and the gifts of God in everyone. She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII, inspired by her time studying theatre education in London, England.

In her spare time, she also writes and directs Christmas and Easter passion plays at Christ Chapel Assembly of God in Woodbridge, VA.

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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mirachelle77/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Devotionals for the Heart: Promises

Claiming the Promises of God
A devotional by Nanci Rubin

I wonder how the Biblical giants lived by such great faith? When I read the scriptures of overcoming faith, I wonder, can I do that? Is it possible? By faith, we receive. If it wasn’t possible, God wouldn’t have made such claims, as He does in Mark 9:23 (KJV) when Jesus said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Scripture gives us a blueprint on how to do it. According to Matthew 21:21-22 (KJV), Jesus answered and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.”

Notice, He didn’t say you might receive, He said you shall receive.

Four Steps to Claim What God Promises

Step #1: Say It!

Positive or negative, it’s up to you. The woman in the Bible with the issue of blood could have said, “It’s no use for me to go to Jesus. I’ve suffered for twelve years.” But she spoke positively. According to Matthew 9:21 (KJV) she thought, “If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”

Sometimes because of our unbelief and timidity we may have lost out on a blessing, a healing or a missed opportunity to witness. We should yield to the gentle nudging of the Holy Spirit when He gives an unction for us to pray for a certain situation. We can have what we say as long as it lines up with God’s Word and we have faith to believe God for it.

The Bible says in Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV), “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

God is so ready to give us what we believe Him for. He delights in His children and loves to give us good gifts. He says in Matthew 7:11 (KJV), “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

Step #2: Do It!

Your action either defeats you or puts you over. Your action is really important. The Bible says that Jarius approached Jesus while his young daughter was at home near death. He was the ruler of the synagogue and had faith to believe Jesus could heal his daughter. Even when he was told his daughter was dead, he was proactive and exercised his faith. Read about this remarkable story in Mark 5:36-43 (KJV).

We read in the Bible where Jesus instructed those He healed to go and “do” something. Wash their eyes or get in a pool of water. The widow of Zarephath was to make the prophet a cake from the last bit of flour and the last oil in her cruse. Do you think her son would have been healed if she hadn’t done what the Lord led her to do? Read 1 Kings 17:8-24 (KJV) for the full story.

Step #3: Receive It!

The woman with the issue of blood felt in her body that she was healed of the plague. It is written in Matthew 9:22 (KJV) how Jesus turned and when He saw her, He said, “Daughter, be of good comfort, thy faith has made thee whole.” And the woman was made whole at that moment.

You can notice that the feeling and the healing followed the coming and doing. The woman said it first. She came for it second. Then she received, and felt in her body she was healed. There is no doubt in my mind that she told her family and friends all that the Lord had done. Wouldn’t you have? If I had suffered twelve years with a disorder, you bet I’d tell someone that I was supernaturally healed.

The Bible says that this woman had gone to many physicians, spent all that she had and was never better. God has provided everything we will ever need by the life and death of His son, Jesus. His sacrifice paved the way for us to be saved, healed and delivered. It is finished.

Step #4: Tell It!

There are many instances in the Bible where Jesus instructed the person healed to "Go and tell" or "Go and show" their healing to the priests. It’s important to testify to what the Lord has done. The Bible says in Revelation 12:11 (KJV), “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

We can speak a good confession and in so doing so we can write our own ticket with God. Our words frame our outcomes. The Bible confirms these steps for our success in every area of our lives as it is written in Psalm 45:1 (KJV): “My heart is inditing a good matter, I speak of the things which I have made touching the King, my tongue is the pen of ready writer.”

The Gadarene demoniac was healed when he saw Jesus afar off and ran toward Him and worshipped Him. According to Mark 5:19 (KJV), “Jesus suffered him not, but said unto him, 'Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.'”

I’m sure we have all experienced that adrenaline rush and good feeling after we’ve witnessed to someone about what God has done in our lives. The enemy hates for you to give God the Glory and Honor due Him. We must always “tell.” 

Again, how could we not? God is a good Father and He loves us beyond anything we can imagine. Remember He loves you just the way you are and He loves giving good gifts to His children.

~*~
Author Bio:

Nanci is a poet and short story writer published in Cypress News, Family Times E-Zine, Free Verse and the Commonwealth of Poetry. 

She belongs to RWA, ACFW, and Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild where she’s enrolled in his novel writing program.

Nanci lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats, Romeo and Juliette, along with their newest member of the family, Roni who is a seven-month-old Goldendoodle.

Recently, Nanci completed her debut novel, A Betrayal in Cross Keys. It is an Amish romance that she has placed in her agent's capable hands. The rest is up to God.