Distracted Faith

Have you ever been on your way to complete a task and stopped multiple times before you ever got to the original destination that was set? Well, I have many times! I found myself stopping at the gas station to fill up, stopping at the ATM machine, picking up prescriptions at the local pharmacy and leaving my original task of grocery shopping till the very end. By then, I was hungry and worn out by the Texas heat! All these things that I stopped for can be reasonable stops but they were not the set task that I had originally set out to complete for that morning. I got easily distracted by what I thought needed to be done first instead of doing what the original task was. I eventually made it to the grocery store. By then I was ready for lunch, drooling over the foods on each isle leading me to purchase everything in sight! I hope someone can relate!

Distractions are purposely set to take you off course and take your attention to a different course resulting in prolonging the original arrival time. As believers in Christ, according to scripture, we have been anointed by God to complete a specific calling or task. “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” 2 Corinthians 1:21. God has placed you here for a reason and a purpose! Many of us allow distractions to take us off course or even a different destiny that God had never intended for you to have. Do you believe you are anointed? Do you believe you have been set apart to bring Glory to our heavenly father? Yes you have! Let’s take a look at Matthew chapter 14 When Jesus walks on water.

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. (23) After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, (24) and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. (25) Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. (26) When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. (27) But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (28) “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” (29) “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” (31) Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:22-31.

The scripture in verse 22 starts off by saying that immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Jesus set the disciples aside from the crowd. Then Jesus went and prayed. His disciples have been chosen, set aside, anointed for a reason and a purpose shown to him by God. If you have been saved, have accepted Jesus as your savior and allow him to be Lord in your life, you have a specific calling by God! You have been chosen, called, accepted and set apart. You have been anointed! Thank you Jesus for your love, grace and mercy that you have chosen us regardless of our status, past or even flaws.

Verse 26 states “when the disciples saw him (Jesus) walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear! Here we have chosen people of God, set aside to do the will of God and they are in fear because they caught a small glimpse of a miracle. What little faith did they have in their leader and themselves? Jesus reassures them, by stating in verse 27, “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” Then we have Peter, who isn't all convinced yet. Sounds like Peter may be questioning if it is really Jesus due to his own fear! I know there have been times in my fear, I’ve questioned Jesus. Peter kind of puts Jesus to the test. In verse 28, Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water. (LOL) How many of us have acted just like Peter! Lord if you want me to do this, you will give me a sign! Jesus simply says, “Come.”

In verse 29, Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus! But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. Peter cried out, “Lord, save me.” In verse 31 Jesus asks Peter why did you doubt, after reaching down and saving Peter. Point of the story! God has set you apart for a specific call, purpose, reason or task! When we set our eyes on Jesus and do the will of God in our lives, we are like Peter walking on water. People are getting saved, people are breaking free from bondage, miracles are happening on Earth! God’s kingdom is glorified because we have stayed on the task God has set for us. But when we, for a moment, get distracted, like Peter did with the wind, we can very easily lose our focus off Jesus. We tend to focus more on ourselves or our circumstances. We tend to set our eyes on those things that were strategically placed to distract you from what God has originally set for you! But Lord….i fed the homeless and served my community and volunteered in the shelters! I was doing “good things.” My fear is that Jesus would look down at me and say… But that was never the set destination I had for you! That was never the will of God for your life….that was your own will because you set your eyes on yourself not on me!

Keep your eyes on Jesus! Life will throw distractions at you that are specifically designed to take you off course. Just like Peter, the wind distracted him. Peter took his eyes off Jesus allowing fear to set in and he began to sink. Let God’s will be done so that he can be glorified in heaven and we can be used for his glory! I have had a desire and passion in my life to write for Jesus for many years! I have allowed excuses and distractions to keep me from doing it. After three prophecies later, I have decided to set my eyes on Jesus and “walk on water”! I will allow God to use me for his glory without fear of falling and when I do fall I know Jesus is there to save me! I have made the choice to pursue the destiny of writing for the Lord no matter the distractions that will come along the way. As long as I keep my eyes on Jesus, I know I will be on the destiny God has set for me!