“Noah did everything just as God commanded him.” Genesis 6:22 NIV
The Bible is filled with examples of ordinary people stepping out in faith, trusting, and obeying God. Noah was technically the first account of someone with what others may call crazy faith. Noah didn’t question God. Instead, he did “everything just as God commanded him”. Imagine what others thought of Noah when he began building the huge ark nowhere near water. What about when he began loading animals on the boat? And then, “the floodgates of the heavens were opened.” Genesis 7:11.
On this Water Walking Wednesday, ask yourself if you are practicing “crazy faith?” Are you allowing God to lead you? Are you stepping out of your comfort zone and into the unknown where God can be your guidance and support?
Click here to listen to Colton Dixon explain the inspiration for his new song “Build A Boat.” Then Click here to listen to the song. May the words inspire you and I to exhibit crazy faith, step out, and build a boat!
““I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:1-11 NIV
Tether: tie with a rope so as to restrict movement
Often the word tether carries negative connotations. At first thought, you may think it would not be a good thing to be tethered to something or someone. In today’s picture, captured by Ray White, the boats are tethered to the dock to keep them from being damaged. Without being tied, the boats could drift and float away. To what are you tethered? What ties up your attention? What keeps you from drifting off the path God has planned for you? Examine what directs your thoughts and guides your decisions?
Now I want you to think outside the box. This Transformation Tips Tuesday I want you to consider being tethered as not only positive but also as your goal.
I encourage you to imagine yourself tethered to Jesus Christ. Think of being so closely bound that you share every step, every moment, every breath with Your Savior. After all, isn’t that our ultimate goal?
Click here to listen to “Tethered” by Phil Wickham as you prayerfully consider habits and routines you can adopt or improve to strengthen your tether to the heart of Christ. A few possibilities include; setting aside a daily devotion time, journaling prayers, keeping a gratitude journal, or memorizing scripture. Choose one of these ideas and allow it to transform you into being even more like Christ.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Let’s begin our Mindset Monday by letting go of the grip we have on worry. Let’s open our closed fist hands one finger at a time and release all of the what if’s that consume our thoughts. Today, each time worry tries to creep in, let’s imagine this photo of the beach with a clear blue sky and trust. Let the words of the song “Everything” by Lauren Daigle remind us.
“Even the oceans push and pull at your command. So you can still my heart with your hand. You tell the seasons when it’s time for them to turn. So I will trust you when it hurts.”
No matter what troubles we face, God has us in the palm of His hand. Our Heavenly Father will guide and direct us if we will trust and obey. Today, let’s set the tone for our week by letting go of worry and embracing trust. Beginning our Mindset Monday with the right perspective will ensure our Monday isn’t a Manic Monday!
Click here to listen to “Everything” by Lauren Daigle. Allow the words to surround you as you let go of worry and embrace trust.
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”” Mark 4:35-41 NIV
Study this beautiful picture captured by Ray White. Notice how calm the water appears. The surface seems as smooth as glass. As you go about your Spiritual Sunday I encourage you to keep this visual of the calm ocean in your mind. As you go about your day and the rest of your week, when the waves of life begin to churn, call out to Jesus to rebuke the storm. Keep your eyes on Jesus and allow Him to say, “Quiet! Be still!”
As you begin your Spiritual Sunday I encourage you to Click here to listen to “Through It All” by Kristen DeMarco. Allow the words to cover you with strength and courage.
“The seas that are shaken and stirred can be calmed and broken for my regard.”
“Let go my soul and trust in Him. The waves and wind still know His name.”
“Through it all my eyes are on you.”
No matter what storm you find yourself in, keep your eyes on Jesus. Trust in His power and strength. Have faith in Him, so that in time, you can confidently say, “It is well with my soul!”
““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy”. Psalm 116:1 NIV
On Sunday I encouraged us to remember the who, what, where, and when from which God has brought us because it is a key component of faith. Notice I didn’t include the why. It is easy to get stuck in our whys. If you listened to the song I shared on Thursday, you know God loves each of us uniquely and intimately. Instead of looking at our situations and getting stuck, let’s turn to God and allow His unconditional love to soften our hearts.
Just like birds chirping is music to our ears, our words can be music to God’s ear. Something as simple as this song, I Love you Lord by Stephanie Gretzinger. The lyrics sing;
I love you, Lord And I lift my voice To worship You Oh, my soul rejoice
Take joy, my King In what You hear Let it be a sweet Sweet sound in Your ear
On this Finish Friday, let’s put a sweet sound in God’s ear. Looking a this beautiful photo, I can only imagine the view God sees from heaven. Although we can’t see the entire view, we can find peace in knowing God can.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 NIV
We recently helped my mom downgrade her storage unit. It made me aware of all the things we accumulate over the years of life. Some are very sentimental. Some are things we thought we needed but come to find out, they can live in storage. When we were saved, we were crucified so that Christ Jesus could live and rule in our hearts. We read in Galations 2:20 NIV; “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Where are our hearts today in 2022? With so many social media channels and ads, it can be hard to resist getting caught up in things we probably don’t need. Matthew writes in 6:19-24 about storing up treasures on earth and in heaven. On this Thankful Thursday I encourage us to do a heart check. Are there things that are distracting our faith and our walk with God? Are there things that we are more thankful for than our new lives in Christ? Things are good to have but only if they don’t distract us from what we can store up in heaven.
I will leave you with this thought. Take a moment to look at this beautiful picture by Ray White. I see one person at the shore. I see beauty in God’s creation. As we are examining our hearts, let’s be reminded that God doesn’t see our things. He loves each of us like we are His only child. Take a moment to really list to the words of this song, The One You Love by Elevation Worship.
Water Walkers 