Peter Did It. Circumstances.....

     Peter did it.  Well Peter did a lot of things.  But this thing Peter did was amazing!  Actually Peter couldn't have done it at all on his own.  When he tried, it didn't work.  This thing Peter did?  He walked on water!
     Have you ever walked on water?  I've walked on air before when someone yelled "snake!" but that's a whole different thing.  Actually I probably could have won a long jump competition that day.  But I've never walked on water.  Could I?  Could you?
     Matthew 14:22 is where this particular Peter story begins.  Jesus had sent His disciples on ahead by boat.  He went alone up on the mountainside to pray.  Later that evening the boat was out quite a ways from land and was in some kind of rough waters.  Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to meet his disciples by walking on the lake.  Well He was there when the waters were created.  Of course He could walk on them!  Why would we expect anything different?
     Well when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost and they were terrified.  How pitiful!  They had witnessed miracles and knew who Jesus was but they didn't even stop to think this could be Him coming to them.  Jesus immediately talked to them and calmed them down.  Peter, who was always quick to say something, asked Jesus to prove it was Him by telling Peter to walk out to Him on the water.  Jesus didn't have a problem with that at all and told Peter "come".
     Peter did it!  He walked on the water toward Jesus!  But then he goofed.  He looked at his circumstances instead of looking at Jesus.  Peter saw the wind and the waves and he became afraid and, of course, he started to sink.  He cried "Lord, save me!  Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him.
     Have you ever been like Peter?  I have.  Still am at times.  So many times the Lord wants to bless us but we are too busy worrying about our circumstances to look at Him.  But you know, I'm doing much better about that.  The devil isn't very pleased about it but that's just too bad for him.  I'm not going to let him win!
     During some recent difficulties I was so tempted to look at my difficulties instead of looking to God.  Then it was as if I felt the Lord take hold of both sides of my face, lift my head toward Him and say "look at me".  He was smiling!  The Lord didn't want me to look a person being used by the devil to cause problems for me. We wrestle not with flesh and blood but with principalities...spiritual wickedness...Ephesians 6:12.   While people may hurt us, it's the enemy, the devil, who uses them to hurt us.  When you think about it, it's pretty sad.  That person or people who think they are doing right by hurting you will actually be judged by God one way or another.  Pray for that person.  But keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the circumstances. 
     Another thing Peter did....he got out of the boat!  How often have you stayed in the boat, afraid of the rough waters?  Yes, we need to be wise when making decisions that could be dangerous.  But this was different.  Jesus was there, already walking on the water!  He didn't tell Peter to get out of the boat and try it on his own.  No way!  Jesus was already right there on the water when He told Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water.  He will never leave us.  He is always there.
     Where are your eyes today?  Are you looking at your circumstances?  Does  the enemy have your full attention?  If so, you are sinking fast!  Or maybe you are looking toward Jesus.  Look to Him today.  We never know when our last day will be the one we are in the middle of so make it count now.  He's been there.  He knows every struggle.  Let Him bless your life, and bless the lives of others by the way they see you living your faith in Him.  We must live in obedience to Him.  We must focus on Him and not our circumstances.  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.