5 Ways to Step out of the Boat
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When God calls you out of the boat, you put your foot in the water and you walk.Why do you doubt? Why do I doubt?
A few weeks ago I stepped out of the boat. I said yes to a desire…a dream. I knew the Lord was calling me and I had to follow. And it scared me. It scares me still. I’m not sure what scares me. The unknown, of course. The thought of failing…absolutely. The thought of succeeding…that too. The expectations? The work?The risk.It will not be easy. I may fail. I may succeed in ways I did not expect. I may succeed and nothing more. I may have to fight the desire to give up.
I may sink.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][dt_gap height="10"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][dt_quote type="blockquote" font_size="normal" animation="none" background="fancy"]But Jesus immediately said to them, ‘Take courage. It is I, do not be afraid. Peter said to Him, 'Lord if it is you, command me to come to You on the water.' And He said, 'Come.' Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘Why did you doubt?’ And when they climbed into the boat the wind died down." Matthew 14: 27-31 NLT[/dt_quote][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][dt_gap height="10"][vc_single_image image="2822" alignment="center" border_color="grey" img_link_target="_self" img_size="large"][dt_gap height="10"][vc_single_image image="2823" alignment="center" border_color="grey" img_link_target="_self" img_size="large"][dt_gap height="10"][vc_single_image image="2824" alignment="center" border_color="grey" img_link_target="_self" img_size="large"][dt_gap height="10"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
How do you step out of the boat and walk?
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1. Take courage. Move toward Jesus.
Don’t be afraid! He is the one calling out to you. He is the one with his hand out stretched toward you. HE IS. Don’t be afraid, take courage and take that first step to get out of the boat.
2. Ask to be called out of the Boat.
Peter wanted to step out of the boat. He believed he could. He desired to step out of the boat, to get closer to Jesus. Maybe you have a desire to move into something more, something that takes a lot of courage. Ask to be called out of the boat. Peter asked, “Tell me to come to you on the water.” Peter knew and believed that if Jesus called him, Jesus would make him able. Peter had faith in His saviors voice and calling.
3. Believe you WILL walk on water.
"Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on water and came toward Jesus.” When you get out of the boat, you’ll walk on water. You will trust and be able. Able to go, do, move, walk like you never have before. You will walk, not toward your own desires and achievements and successes, but you will walk toward Jesus, the one who calls you and holds you and you will keep your eyes on Him and every step you take will be in effort to reach Him.
4. Expect that you may sink and Cry out to Jesus.
“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink and cried out ‘Lord save me.'” There will be times of fear. Moments when you take your eyes off of Jesus and you see your reality mixed with your imagination and you’ll waver and sink. BUT...
5. Cry out to Jesus.
You will know and remember to cry out to Jesus, the one who called you out of the boat and He will reach out his hand and save you and hold you and embrace you and pull you out and lift you up and like a father, he'll pull you near and gently remind you, “you of little faith, why do you doubt?” Why did you look away? Why didn’t you believe and trust. Expect to sink and know He will pull you up. He knows. It’s part of our journey to righteousness.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][dt_gap height="10"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] He holds you and and you walk together with Him on the water and all the glory goes to Jesus who calls us out of the boat.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/1"][dt_gap height="20"][dt_fancy_title title="You are His Beloved," title_align="center" title_size="normal" title_color="default" el_width="70" title_bg="disabled" separator_color="default"][dt_gap height="10"][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][dt_gap height="50"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="839" alignment="center" border_color="grey" img_link_target="_self" img_size="full"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][dt_gap height="50"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row margin_top="0" padding_left="40" padding_right="40" bg_position="top" bg_repeat="no-repeat" bg_cover="false" bg_attachment="false" padding_top="40" padding_bottom="40" parallax_speed="0.1" bg_type="theme_default" bg_grad="background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #FBFBFB), color-stop(50%, #E3E3E3), color-stop(100%, #C2C2C2));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);" bg_color_value="#ecf6f5" parallax_style="vcpb-default" bg_image_repeat="no-repeat" bg_image_size="cover" bg_img_attach="fixed" parallax_sense="30" viewport_vdo="viewport_play" enable_controls="display_control" bg_override="0"][vc_column width="2/3"][dt_gap height="20"][vc_column_text css=".vc_custom_1412095731177{padding: 20px !important;background-color: #ecf6f5 !important;border-color: #ec97ba !important;border-style: dotted !important;}"]
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