It contains one of my favorite stories.......of Jesus walking across the sea to his disciples & Peter taking a giant leap of faith and stepping over the side of the boat and walking with Jesus. I can so see myself as Peter begging Jesus to let me try it. But this morning when I read it these things jumped out at me:
1. The "boisterous" winds. Matthew 14:30 - But when he saw that the wind was boisterous he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out saying "Lord save me". When Peter asked Jesus to let him try walking on the water Peter wasn't paying any attention to the winds. He was only focused on what Jesus was doing. & when he stood with one foot on the water and one safely in the boat..........he wasn't noticing wind.......he was only looking at Jesus. It was only after he had entirely left the safety of the boat and actually taken a couple steps..........that he took his eyes off Jesus and noticed the boisterous winds.
2. Jesus felt emotion. When Jesus and his disciples arrived at the tomb that held Lazarus "Jesus wept". Jesus knew Lazarus was only temporarily dead. He knew that he could bring Lazarus back to life. Yet he wept. At the feeding of the 5,000 and again at the feeding of the 4,000 Jesus had compassion on the crowds. Emotions are God-given. Women were created to be nurturers. We raise children. We build up our husbands. We cry. We laugh. I believe that woman carries God's heart.
3. Our emotions can be like boisterous winds. In order for me to focus on what I am feeling right now my focus has to be on me. If someone says something and it hurts my feelings it's because I'm focused on me & my feelings. I can find forgiveness for that person when the focus comes off me and goes first to Jesus and t hen back to the other person involved. I can be moved to tears and feel great compassion for someone without letting my feelings overwhelm me? Why? Because the focus isn't on me.
4. Passionate Leadership. I am a passionate person. I have a passion for the things of Jesus and I love nothing more than sharing Jesus with those God puts in my path. Just like Peter when my gaze is on the face of Jesus I will always find the courage to set that foot outside of the safety of the boat. I will take the risk. I will take those first few steps. I love taking a risk for Jesus! Doubt will only creep in if I tear my eyes from the face of Jesus and put them on my circumstances. Just like when I focus on my feelings insted of Jesus.....I open myself up to believe the lies of the Enemy Jesus had emotions. He showed them openly. But HIS FOCUS NEVER WAVERED FROM HIS FATHER. When I start focusing on my feelings; on past hurts; on criticism I waver.........I start to sink and then along come those boisterous winds
God has made me to be passionate. That is one of my greatest strenghts & greatest weaknesses. It means I am passionate about what I do...........it also means I'm wide open to the hurt that comes along with taking that risk.
I'm on a journey. Not to stop leading with my heart, with my passion. My passion and my heart are God-given and they are precious. My journey is to learn to lead with all that I've got and with my eyes never wavering from the face of my Jesus.
Oh how I love my Jesus.
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