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Riding Waves and Getting Closer to God

I'm sure that all of you can agree with me that there are always ups and downs in life.  There are times when you've been flying high and times when you thought the sun might not come up tomorrow.  Times when you have been tested and times when you have been championed.  Have you ever thought about the correlation to your prayer life and your happenings?
  
In this life, we constantly have waves of highs and lows.  The way in which these waves impact you and others around you though solely comes down to your focus.  In Matthew 14, we see Jesus walking on water and He instructs Peter to come and do the same.  Peter then walked on water, but the moment he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked at the wind, Peter started to sink.  I think this is a really cool example of the power of Jesus.  Many times in the Bible, there are stories written where people were afraid or should have been afraid (especially pertaining to waves and water).  I've got to think that I'd be a little bit scared if I was walking on dry land with walls of the Red Sea on each of my sides.  The point that I'm trying to make though is that all we see are the waves, the wind, and the struggle, but God does not see that.  Our God sees refinement, closeness to Him, and the opportunity for the building of His Kingdom.  

I am one to think that some of the best disciples to people who don't have a real relationship with Jesus are those that have been through the worst of storms and survived.  The telling of their story/testimony can have a great impact because it shows strength and security in tremendous suffering and weakness.  Good example in the Bible is when the Israelites were between the Red Sea and soldiers that wanted to kill them.  From the perspective of the natural, this was a losing situation.  Thank goodness God is Supernatural and He was able to save when there was no natural solution. 
  
What part of the life wave are you in right now?  Are your occurrences hindering you from your relationship with Jesus?  Are you fully trusting in God at your low point?  Are you fully immersed with God at your high point?  Know this, waves will come and you will have ups and downs for the rest of your life.  You have a wonderful God though that isn't just your life vest, but He is the water that supports you in the good times and bad.  God is with you through it all, but for you to understand that in all circumstances your eyes must be on Jesus.  Your pursuit must be daily.  There is a reason for this and that reminder can only be found by diving into the Bible and actively pursuing God through prayer.  

Psalm 30 gives us a great example of how God works and the waves we might experience.     
       
I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths    and did not let my enemies gloat over me.2 Lord my God, I called to you for help,    and you healed me.3 You, Lord, brought me up from the realm of the dead;    you spared me from going down to the pit.
4 Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people;    praise his holy name.5 For his anger lasts only a moment,    but his favor lasts a lifetime;weeping may stay for the night,    but rejoicing comes in the morning.
6 When I felt secure, I said,    “I will never be shaken.”7 Lord, when you favored me,    you made my royal mountain[c] stand firm;but when you hid your face,    I was dismayed.
8 To you, Lord, I called;    to the Lord I cried for mercy:9 “What is gained if I am silenced,    if I go down to the pit?Will the dust praise you?    Will it proclaim your faithfulness?10 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me;    Lord, be my help.”
11 You turned my wailing into dancing;    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

Have a wonderful week!

Song of the week: What a Faithful God

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