Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Tuesday 08/03/10)

Today’s Devotional Written By A Hero: Tracy Koweh (soon To Be Dixon)

Time to Go Deeper

Matthew 14:27-31 (New Living Translation)

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don’t be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here! " 28 Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water." 29 "Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"

This past Sunday in our Marriage College class, a young woman asked, "How do you trust again? How do you let your guard down long enough to let someone in?" There were several answers that the group presented that were awesome, but when I shared what God had gave me, I just knew it was going to be a blog.

I told her that I too went through the same fears with Shane: afraid to open up again, to trust and to let someone else get close to Jaida. I told her the only way to do it, was to just do it. Baby steps. Start small. Its like going to the ocean or pool, one step at a time and you gradually get there.

A few weekends ago we took the girls to the ocean front closer to our home. We all went out pretty far until Jamerika said she saw some jellyfish. Well, of course we all headed back to shore. Jamerika got completely out of the water, while we all played in the shallow end. Well, after about five minutes I got stung by a jellyfish. After we got home, I pondered had I stayed out in the deeper waters, would I have gotten stung?

See so many times in our spiritual lives God is trying to take us deeper into His will, but then we see potential danger, get afraid, and turn back to a place God has brought us out of. Then when we get there, we are no longer in His protection. Had we just stayed where He had taken us, He would have kept us from the new dangers. The other message I got from this, is that everybody is not meant to go with you as you go higher in God.

Today as you prepare to go a little deeper in Christ, don't let the sight of the enemy or the fear of others discourage you. Let it encourage you that you are right where God needs you to be. Once you go back, you leave His will and potentially His covering, grace and mercy. Take it one step at a time, and you'll get there.