Skip to main content

Taking a Leap of Faith

November 12 2012


Today's Truth
"I can do everything through him (Jesus) who gives me strength," (Philippians 4:13 NIV).

Friend to Friend
Several years ago, on a trip to Kauai, my husband and our friends, Larry and Cynthia Price, decided to go on a zip line through the jungle. After being jostled and tossed like ragdolls in the back of a retired army jeep, we finally made it to the top of the mountain from which we were going to zip down—risking life and limb I might add.

I hopped out of the jeep and eyed the cable suspended high above the valley below. After watching Cynthia fly through the trees, I climbed up onto a wooden platform and surrendered to Jack, a jovial, burly Hawaiian, who strapped me into a harness and placed a helmet on my head. With a simple click of a metal buckle, he attached my harnessed body onto a seemingly flimsy steel cable. As I stood on the edge of the platform eyeing the disappearing earth below my feet, I had a choice. I could say, "no thanks" and ask to be released from the cable, or I could jump.

I chose to jump. My body flew over the treetops and the stunningly beautiful gorge. I was Tarzan's Jane and this was my jungle. Airborne. Exhilarating. Risky.

Jacob was with us that day. He was a stranger among our little band of adventurers. Jacob was alone. No friends. No spouse. No family.

"Jacob, what brings you up to this mountain today?" I asked.

"I'm afraid of heights," he answered.

I then noticed the thin line of perspiration beading over his upper lip. The slight tremble in his voice. The mechanical one-foot-in-front-of-the-other halted gait up the hill.

"You're afraid of heights?" I asked. "Then why are you here?"

"I'm going to conquer it today," he determinedly answered.

I was struck. We were here to have fun. He was here for a totally different reason. When Jacob stood on that platform, I prayed for my new friend. For Jacob this was not just a joy ride…or just maybe it was.
I'm not saying that God told Jacob to go to the top of a mountain, attach his body to a flimsy cable, and fly over the gorge at the risk of life and limb. But I am saying that obedience often requires a leap of faith. Too often we say yes to God, but live the no because of fear. We stand at the precipice of belief and a decision has to be made. Am I going to trust God or not? Am I going to attach my heart to the cable of His love and take a leap of faith, or am I going to freeze in fear because I don't trust that He has my best interest in mind?

Am I going to settle for safety and miss the thrill of seeing God work through me?

As we live and move and have our being in Jesus, God will take us to some amazing places. And there will always be a choice. Will we jump headlong into the adventurous journey of His perfect plan, or will we hang back for lack of faith? Jacob stood on the platform, took a deep breath, and jumped. He flew over the treetops, careened over the river, and landed safely on the other side of his greatest fear.
We clapped and cheered. Jacob took a bow. God smiled.
In Him we live and move and have our being…and sometimes we soar.

Let's Pray
Lord, sometimes I'm just flat out afraid. Afraid I'll fail. Afraid I'll be rejected. Afraid I won't be good enough. Lord, forgive me for all those "I's." Forgive me for focusing on my weaknesses rather than Your strength. Today, I'm believing that I can do all things that You call me to do because I know that You will give me the strength I need.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
Is there anything in your life that God has called you to do that you haven't done?

What's holding you back?

What are you afraid of?

Who are you afraid of?

Do you need to have a little talk with yourself? David did it all the time. He spoke to his soul.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acción de gracias por dones espirituales

Gracias doy a mi Dios siempre por vosotros, por la gracia de Dios que os fue dada en Cristo Jesús;   porque en todas las cosas fuisteis enriquecidos en él, en toda palabra y en toda ciencia;   así como el testimonio acerca de Cristo ha sido confirmado en vosotros,   de tal manera que nada os falta en ningún don, esperando la manifestación de nuestro Señor Jesucristo;   el cual también os confirmará hasta el fin, para que seáis irreprensibles en el día de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.   Fiel es Dios, por el cual fuisteis llamados a la comunión con su Hijo Jesucristo nuestro Señor.    Os ruego, pues, hermanos, por el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que habléis todos una misma cosa , y que no haya entre vosotros divisiones , sino que estéis perfectamente unidos en una misma mente y en un mismo parecer .   Porque he sido informado acerca de vosotros, hermanos míos, por los de Cloé, que hay entre vosotros contiendas.   Quiero decir, que cada uno de vosotros dice: Yo soy de Pablo; y y
1 comment
Read more

Pablo reprende a Pedro

Pero cuando Pedro vino a Antioquía, le resistí cara a cara, porque era de condenar. Pues antes que viniesen algunos de parte de Jacobo, comía con los gentiles; pero después que vinieron, se retraía y se apartaba, porque tenía miedo de los de la circuncisión. Y en su simulación participaban también los otros judíos, de tal manera que aun Bernabé fue también arrastrado por la hipocresía de ellos. Pero cuando vi que no andaban rectamente conforme a la verdad del evangelio, dije a Pedro delante de todos: Si tú, siendo judío, vives como los gentiles y no como judío, ¿por qué obligas a los gentiles a judaizar? Nosotros, judíos de nacimiento, y no pecadores de entre los gentiles, sabiendo que el hombre no es justificado por las obras de la ley, sino por la fe de Jesucristo, nosotros también hemos creído en Jesucristo, para ser justificados por la fe de Cristo y no por las obras de la ley, por cuanto por las obras de la ley nadie será justificado. Y si buscando ser justificados en Cristo, tamb
Post a Comment
Read more

Leer hoy

Leer hoy: Mateo 10:26-42; Levíticos 9,10; Proverbios 23. Señor, tu eres mi Dios reconocerlo todos los días te hará mucho bien; Isaías 25:1 si aun no le conoces dejame lo saber con gusto te lo presento. Jesus es su nombre!! Dios te bendiga!! Orar sin cesar!!! Amen!!
Post a Comment
Read more