This Week’s Recovery Application Challenge
Be sure to complete TWIRL 017 before continuing this TWRAC activity
Walking On Water in Recovery
Pastor Fran Leeman (LifeSpring Community Church, Plainfield, IL) spoke about Peter walking on water out to Jesus. Peter and the disciples were sailing in the midst of a terrible storm when he saw Jesus, apparently standing out on the water. How was this possible? How could a man stand on the water? Peter shouted out, “Jesus, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes come,” Jesus said (Matthew 14:28-29, NLT). Pastor Leeman pointed out that he would have said, “Jesus, if it’s you, calm the storm!” He said he would have wanted to see the evidence that it was Jesus, but that Peter took a much different approach. Rather than ask Jesus to prove himself real by doing the impossible, Peter asked Jesus to empower him, Peter, to do the impossible by the power given him by Jesus. What profound truth.
Recovery in the midst of your circumstances can feel like you are walking on water in order to manage. But if it’s in your own strength and not in relationship with Jesus then it’s likely you are overwhelmed and sinking, or perhaps drowning. With Christ, you have the ability—even authority—in the middle of all of it to do something extraordinary. Call on Jesus. Then, as he says, “Come to me,” get out of the boat that is your comfort-zone and walk on water with Jesus, even if you’re hanging on for dear life.
- What is your storm today?
- Do you see Jesus in the midst of your storm, perhaps where you might not expect to find Him?
- If you’re not certain it’s Him, what can you do to know for sure?
- What are you willing to do to find out whether God is involved in your circumstances?
- How confident are you in your ability to manage the storm on your own? Explain.
- Will you be willing to step out of the boat to do something extraordinary if that is what Jesus commands you to do? Explain.
- How confident are you that you can actually walk on water, not alone but with Jesus, in the middle of the storm? Explain.
- Now take some time to pray and talk to God about the storms in your life. Ask Him to prove Himself by commanding you to do the extraordinary. Then, ask Him for confident faith to walk on water with Him.
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