Stepping Out of the Boat

Brothers and Sisters, who are loved by God,

This is what I wrote to one of my pastors yesterday:
'Pastor, your sermon on financial health last night was one of my favorites! After hearing the song "Oceans" during worship, God just pressed into my heart that GIVING is one way to step out of the boat and onto the water.  God beckons us to join Him in places the natural world says we should falter but there He is, hand out-stretched saying, "Trust me." THAT'S the margin that I want to live, in that place where your brain is screaming it's impossible and God shows NOTHING is impossible.  AMEN.'

I then promptly did NOTHING about it. I want to change that today.  I want to step out of the boat. Tithing is the one place  God says TEST ME IN THIS...but I have to be consistent. It's scary, the math seems impossible and immediate changes in the finances don't seem imminent...and that's the storm around the boat. Jesus, I want to stand up, take a deep breath and meet you in the water. I want to make kingdom investments. I want to step boldly where I fear and KNOW that You will not let me drown. (As I type that, You've given me a vision of MAKING IT TO YOU on these stormy seas and LAUGHING. THANK YOU, Lord.) I feel You prompting me to stop waiting for others to act. It's too passive for You and I see You showing me the Biblical reference of the servant burying His master's wealth. (Matthew 25:26-30) Lord, I don't want to bury what is Yours but to put it to work. Lead my way, Father, and make my Spirit restless until Your will be done. Give 10, Save 10 and Live on 80. In Jesus' name, amen."

As I finished writing that, God then showed me that being frivolous with our resources is a manifestation of fear. It's a way of not facing our responsibilities because we fear what we will find. It's in those actions we find inactive faith.   When Peter gets scared after stepping off the boat, I've often thought, "Jesus was RIGHT THERE. Why did you fear?" ...but I don't say this enough to myself.  Father, I pray Your Church will find its footing, step boldly and confidently, even with the storms raging. Help us finish that journey to You upon the water. Help us lock our eyes on Yours that our feet move on impossible places. You show us by example what is possible and You wait to receive us in those impossible places.  Father, where you call us,  we can be assured of solid ground. When the natural world says there is nothing to hold us up, You do. Thank You, Father. In Jesus' name, amen.