One of the problems we as people tend to fall into during the holiday season, new year, or anytime of year is that we do very well in every area until stress and other issues of life hit us and we lose our focus, fall off the “bandwagon,” or “vear off the tracks.” Then, even though our eyes, vision, mission and purpose was once clear, it becomes clouded or in shambles because we took our eyes off our source of strength. We replaced the hope and put our focus on the issues, circumstances, or problems. We took our eyes off the main thing that we were working on and started focusing on things that are not important. I know from past experience.
MY EXPERIENCE
From the fall of 2014 to the summer of 2015, I stopped logging my food or going to the gym to lift or swim. I was more concerned with having a relationship with a woman I liked. The problem was that she was a consumer and not a contributor to my life. It was not long before I started to redevelop old habits. I fell back into old patterns of eating high calorie foods because I was spending all my time with someone who didn’t have my health or personal interests at heart. I squandered my resources and spent time on someone who didn’t have the same goals or vision that I did. I don’t blame her. I blame myself for being stupid. I had worked very hard to develop a new way of life, eating, working out, etc. and then I let myself be blinded by my own desire to find love again, but I was looking in the wrong place. I took my eyes off the MAIN THING!
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Matthew 14:29-31 (NLT)
I read this passage of scripture and I see myself in Peter's shoes. Sure Peter began to sink, but only after he was already out of the boat and after he noticed the winds and waves. Heck, at least he took a chance and got out of the boat. He was walking on the water and he knew his source was Jesus. Even when he began to fall and cry out, at least he screamed out for Help. Peter did more than most people do. Most of us would not even attempt to get out of the boat.
My Thot: Peter took the biggest leap of faith and got out of the boat. His faith was in Jesus. I would say this is a beautiful picture for us to keep in mind to help us make sure we focus, stay focused, or refocus on what God is doing in and through us. God is not going to leave us or abandon us in our times of flaking out, or when we take our eyes off the source (Him), or the goals and visions that He has given us to accomplish. Comment below and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to receive blog updates in your inbox.
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