200

7/18/2020

Matthew 14:29-30 “And Peter…walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid.”

The title given to today’s Chamber’s study is Don’t Think Now, Take the Road. This resonates with me because, as I have shared on multiple occasions, I am an over-thinker. When I was called to write this blog, at the end of 2019, I got in my own head about how unqualified I was to even attempt such a thing. How could I achieve a goal of writing a blog every day for a year, and base it on one of the deepest and most challenging daily studies I have encountered in all my years walking with God? I heard the call, but was not focused on how keeping my eyes on Jesus would get me there. It wasn’t until after my son encouraged me, without my telling him about what I was feeling drawn to do, that I felt a confirmation from God. He knows I often need just a little push from someone I trust.

So on January 1, 2020, Blooms of Faith was realized. Today is the 200^th day of my journey, and I am truly humbled that, through keeping my eyes on Jesus, He has gotten me here. He has guided my fingers so much so that some evenings I do not even really know what has poured out of me. I am blessed to have my two guys who read it to give me feedback before publishing. Most nights I ask, “Does it even make sense?” The answer so far has been, “Yes.” What this journey is teaching me is that when you are called to step out in faith, like Peter was, keeping your eyes on Jesus and staying faithful to His vision is the only way not to sink. I certainly would not have made it, and that is a fact.

It is true that the world was a very different place on January 1^st, and I could not possibly have known what 2020 would have in store for both me and all of the human race. It has been a storm of epic proportions in every way, but if we keep our eyes on Jesus, the storm will not overtake us, no matter what happens. Now, more than ever, we need to keep going vertical.

So, if God is calling you to step out of the safety of the boat into the storm, be strong and courageous and keep your eyes on Him alone. Chambers writes, “If you debate for a second when God has spoken, it is all up. Never begin to say—‘Well, I wonder if He did speak?’ Be reckless immediately, fling it all out on Him.”

Next time I hear God’s voice calling me to do something, I pray that this journey reminds me to step out in reckless faithful abandon, for there is no greater blessing.

Note: If today’s verse sounds familiar, it is actually because it was from June 18th. (My boss would call doing this having Covid brain. J) Instead of re-writing this post to match the study today, I am going to step out in faith that this is what God intended. The actual verse for July 18^th is, “And he said, Who art thou Lord?” Chambers writes about being a humble servant of God and obeying Him. He says, “But woe be it to me if when I see Him I say—I will not. He will never insist that I do, but I have begun to sign the death warrant of the Son of God in my soul.” This too is about keeping our eyes focused on Jesus. Clearly, it is the most important thing we can ever do.