Worship
“Know Your Heart” by David Leonard
Scripture
“‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’
‘Come,’ he said.
“Then 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, 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. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
“When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”
-Matthew 14:28-36, emphasis added
Recognizing His Voice
“When you call my name, I want to know it’s you … I just want to know your heart better than I’ve ever known anything.” Linger in the worship song for today for a little bit.
A few years ago, we met our dear friends, the Gloudes, in Breckenridge, Colorado. We decided to go white water rafting one afternoon. Half of us piled into one raft, and Mike and I and two of our girls got in the second raft. As we were maneuvering our way down the rapids, the Lord began to speak to me about the guide on our boat and how He wanted me to pray for this man’s wife to get pregnant. As I began to analyze what God was saying with objections such as, “I don’t even know if he’s married; he’s going to think I’m strange. How and when do I do this?” All of a sudden, our raft hit an enormously large, submerged rock. And lo and behold, I go flying into the water! To make a long five minutes very short, I was trying to not lose my sunglasses, trying not to drown, and somehow listen to the direction of the guide yelling at me to “SWIM!” All of a sudden, the raft catches up to me, and I find myself trapped underneath with absolutely no way out. The weight of the raft kept me from keeping my head above water. I literally thought there was no way out. Then my husband leaned over the front of the raft and somehow found me and pulled me to the side and up and over into the raft.
After gasping for air, I looked at the guide who said, “I haven’t had someone thrown overboard in 10 years!” I said to him, “That’s because God wants me to pray for your wife to get pregnant, and I was finding every reason not to.” With wide eyes, he looked at me and said, “My wife has not been able to get pregnant, and we’ve been trying for a very long time.” Once we got to shore, I prayed and prophesied over that man and his wife, finding out that his mom was a believer and had prayed for him to come back to Jesus for many, many years. That divine appointment needed my obedience, and God had equally as much for me as for that guide that day!
When Peter heard the voice of Jesus in the midst of blowing winds and crashing waves, the familiarity of the tone of his invitation captured Peter’s attention—His precious, familiar voice. Peter needed His voice while in the boat or on the waves.
Faith in the Storm
As they get back in the boat, the storm ceases and worship arises. Getting back in the boat with Jesus is just as important as launching out in faith. You need your place of refuge with Him and with others. Joining the faith of others in the place of worship, as the 12 did together, is a necessity in stormy waters. Hungry people invite the presence of God, and He comes with fire and fullness, peace and stillness. The storm doesn’t define the character of God but rather re-defines His goodness, power, and presence. Faith is born in opposition and trial because GOD ALWAYS COMES THROUGH. Worship is the highway to faith!
“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen.” -Hebrews 11:1-3, TPT
Sisters, fan into flame this faith the Holy Spirit has supplied you to believe Him for who He is. He’s faithful to fulfill the destiny over your life. But this requires our partnership! Walking on water isn’t a passive, observant position; it’s a radical, faith-full partnership. He will stir up the wind of His spirit beneath you so you can soar. He is inviting us right now to “Come” and walk on impossibility. He will supply the supernatural faith, the supernatural encounter, the supernatural rescue. He will bring His overwhelming presence that causes you to fall face down in worship! This storm right now in America is an opportunity to refine and restore your faith and take you deeper into supernatural encounter as you CROSS OVER!
Please hear me. This tumultuous season of perceived setback, is a divine appointment for a reset for faith. There are destinies over your life, the Church and this nation that God wants to see fulfilled. But He wants our intercession, faith, worship, and partnership to bring them forth. It’s not a time for passivity and lucid observation. It’s a time to press in, repent, intercede and move as He invites us to “Come” into deeper intimacy. It’s out of these moments with Jesus that Peter could pen the words: “But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.” -1 Peter 1:7, TPT
Beyond the Storm
I have a precious friend, Elizabeth, who is undergoing chemo. She shared on one of our Friday Zoom calls that the Lord awakened her in the middle of the night and said to her, “Elizabeth, worship me.” She began to do just that, and His presence came and her spirit was strengthened as she worshipped Him. He came and overwhelmed her with His goodness.
It’s important to notice what is on the other side of this encounter for Jesus, Peter, and the other 11. Remember that when there is a battle or a trial, we have to know that breakthrough is coming. There was a whole town (and surrounding country) awaiting an encounter with Jesus.
“After they crossed over and landed at Gennesaret, the people living there quickly recognized who he was. They were quick to spread the news throughout the surrounding region that Jesus had come to them. So they brought him all their sick, begging him to let them touch the fringe of his robe. And everyone who touched it was instantly healed!” -Matthew 14:34-36, TPT
This miraculous moment of watching Jesus heal so many people was deeply deposited in Peter’s life. Not only did he have this memory, but he also later housed the Holy Spirit inside of him. So that when Peter met the crippled beggar at the gate beautiful, he knew exactly what to offer him.
“Then Peter said, ‘I don’t have money, but I’ll give you this—by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!’ Peter held out his right hand to the crippled man. As he pulled the man to his feet, suddenly power surged into his crippled feet and ankles. The man jumped up, stood there for a moment stunned, and then began to walk around! As he went into the temple courts with Peter and John, he leapt for joy and shouted praises to God.” -Acts 3:6-8, TPT
A Prophetic Promise
Beloved sister, we have to hear his voice above all other voices. Tuck away into Him because He has so much He wants to show you, and He’s calling you to “Come.” Walking on waves with Jesus; worshipping in the storm; watching Jesus heal people who merely touched His cloak are just the beginning for us—just as it was for Peter. He has even more for you in the coming days. I want to prophesy this truth to you: The current global storm is not the end of the story. It’s an opportunity for a profound encounter to come fully alive into the purposes of God in this moment in history. It’s an opportunity to bring a whole village, city, or country the healing power of Jesus. It’s a time to walk on impossibility and move Heaven and Earth in prayer to see the purposes of God fulfilled in our lifetime. It’s time to speed His return and bring in a massive harvest of souls. This is our time, our invitation to awaken and arise. Jesus is coming for His Bride, who is full of faith and zeal for the One her heart longs for! Just ask Him to do this in you. He will birth things (to all of you who have been having pregnancy dreams) through your life you could have only read in chronicles written in heaven. Get ready. Get positioned. It’s coming!
