Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Respond vs React or Walking on the Water

It has been placed on my heart and in my mind the need to "step out on the water".  To set my focus on HIM and not the Storm I am in.   The Storm is overwhelming and consuming my thoughts... I am becoming frozen in fear.

The fear that overtakes us in the mist of the storm is incredible.

 It's  R E A L .... it's tangible when we are slapped around by the wind and soaked by the rain.  The shock of the lightening (what we see) and the rattle (what we feel) by the thunder is R E A L....  We wake kup and go to bed feeling like the Storm is the center of our life.
The Storm is R E A L ... it's happening.  We have no control over the Storm.

The "natural" reaction is to hide... take refuge.... seek shelter.  (distract and comfort ourselves).  This takes the form of indulgent eating, sleeping, watching mindless TV/Movies.  Being a workaholic, alcoholic, eataholic (I made that up).

Image result for react vs respond


All those REACTIONS are "natural".  Even the animals seek refuge in the storm.  Reacting to the storm  WILL stop us from moving forward.  It's difficult to see where we are wanting to be (moving towards our goals)  because we are overwhelmed just trying to survive the storm.  We  are frozen like a little animal hiding under a bush.

What I am hearing from the Lord is to Call on HIM and then...
 STEP OUT ONTO THE WATER !

We are BODY, MIND and SPIRIT - The  RESPONSE needed comes from your Spirit.

In the storms of our lives we need to take hold of our Faith by TRUSTING in HIM and  Respond by STEPPING out of the BOAT onto the Water

That can only be accomplished by SPIRITUALLY KEEPING OUR EYE's on HIM.  Even though the lighting and the thunder causes our BODY and MIND to want to run and hide.  Even though we are drenched in the rain and the wind is pushing us around  and making it almost impossible to even walk and see where we are going.

It is TIME to
Call out to the Lord! And then step out on the water... the ULTIMATE test of Faith !   To defy the natural, tangible storm you are in and live and WALK in the SPIRIT.

HE WILL CATCH YOU and SAVE you if you as you step out and begin to WALK in FAITH..



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. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
 “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:22-33


All of this is not new to me.... I've heard it before. 
 Yet, here I am again caught in the Storm and reacting by seeking refuge.  Hiding in the mist of the Storm and being frozen in fear.

Image result for peter walking on the water

My Prayer today....
Today... I will
 "walk in the spirit" by 

HEARING (praying)  
and 
SEEING (reading) His WORD 
and 
LISTENING to Him

 as he 
CALLS out  COME !  
Walk on the water to me !

Every time I am struck by thoughts of fear today
I will get a picture in my head and say to myself... "step out on the water" 
Then I will see my Lord with his hand extended and keep my EYE's ON HIM as I Walk spiritually on the water today.

Did you know...
My Blog is all about  being HEALTHY .....
Health is about acknowledging we are 
BODY   MIND  and SPIRIT (we seem to forget about our Spiritual side) 

Our HEALTH is DEPENDANT ON   
Responding not Reacting 
to the Storms in our Lives 

Respect this
Understand this
Live by this

Don't react to the Storms in your Life
RESPOND in the SPIRIT
And be set Free from FEAR