DARE

“So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” ~ Matthew 14:20-36

REFERENCE:

Matthew 14:22-29

When you become tired of a situation and want a change, you need to dare. When you have a project ahead of you and feel unprepared, you need to dare. When you know it is time to grow, spread, marry, get a job, or start all over again, you need to dare. To dare is to have the courage to do something. It is being brave enough to do something difficult or dangerous.

Peter was on a voyage in a boat with his colleagues; a point came on the journey when things got agitated, contrary, and life-threatening. Remaining in the boat could have cost Peter and his colleagues their lives, but they saw Jesus master the situation by walking on water. He did the impossible, showing them that it is possible to conquer what threatens you and to make progress despite contrary events. That got Peter’s interest. He said, “Lord, tell me to come; I want to experience this feat too.” Asking Jesus to invite him in the first place was a dare, but Peter did not stop there; when Jesus said, “Come!” he went further.

Peter lived out the definition of dare; he stepped out of the boat of retreat and fear when the prospects did not look good. Others were fearful, discussing the difficulty of the times, but Peter responded differently; he made a move. He dared to obey God, although it looked foolish. He knew that to have something you have never had before, you must do something you have never done before. The facts were not friendly, and all the lights were not green, but all Peter needed was the assurance that the mission was of God. He dared the darkness, winds, and water. He stepped out courageously, and to everyone’s surprise, Peter walked on water.

We are eight months into the year. Are there things you hoped to do, start or stop this year? You have not taken the step because the winds are contrary. I dare you to dare, and God will be waiting for you in the stormy winds and uncertain waters (insufficient funds, lack of opportunity, fear of failure, discouragement by your peers). If you remain in the boat of hoping, wishing, praying, or complaining, you will not have a remarkable testimony like Peter’s. Such gallant motivating stories and testimonies are born in the place of daring.

Let me close with this poem (edited): “I am tired of sailing my little boat just around the harbor; I want to be out where the big ships float; out on the deep where the great ones are. And should my little boat prove too weak for the storms that sweep over those wide seas, better I go down in the thrilling fight than doze to death by the sheltered shore.” ~ Daisy Rinehart

PHOTO QUOTE

ADDITIONAL TEXTS:

Isaiah 41:10-14 & Ecclesiastes 11:4 (TLB)

PRAYERS:

+ Give me a courageous heart to dare to step out when Your word has commanded me.

+ Lord, like Peter, I ask for a word of assurance from You for the project I am about to execute. If it is You, bid me come, act, buy, sell, or invest, in Jesus’ name.

+ I step out of the boat of complacency, regret, fear, and complaining; I dare to do the impossible, and by the grace of God, I shall return with a testimony.