About three o’clock in the morning Jesus went out to them, walking on the water.
Matthew 14:25
Jesus, man/God of miracles, amiracle in and of himself; he healed the sick, cast out demons, saved oursouls. Big, important stuff. Matthew records an incident that is miraculous,but not often considered in the same category. And yet it is a pivotal momentfor many huge reasons. Also for one that seems insignificant because it’ssomething most of us are blessed to be able to do each day: he walked. Yes, onwater. The fact that ‘he went out to them, walking’ is relatable.
So why is this such a big deal?Sure, we can’t stroll across a lake. But this walk of Jesus’ showed manythings: his power over the storm, his appeal to Peter, and his revelation tothe disciples who then recognized him as the Son of God.
Peter also walked. Verse 29: Then Peter got down out of the boat, walkedon the water, and came to Jesus. This disciple suspended disbelief longenough to join Jesus on the surface of the lake. Now there are two men walkingtoward one another across storm-tossed waves. Very dramatic. Even though Petertook his focus off Jesus and put it onto fear, it opened his eyes in otherways.
Pray Americas, SEAPC’s prayer walking initiative to seek revival in the United States, involves, well, walking and praying. Instead of a lake, it will be taking place across the storm-tossed turbulence that is America in 2020. Waves of fear, unrest, and division are affecting so many—believers and non-believers alike—as one nation under God becomes one nation under siege.
What is needed? A dramatic miracleto calm the wind and the waves. What is required? That our eyes remain fixed onJesus. It’s not our walking that will change anything on its own. It’s not evenour praying. It is God hearing our prayers from heaven and intervening in thestorm.
It helps with Scripture to readwhat comes before and after a key verse. Matthew prefaced this scene as Jesuswent away by himself to pray. He ends it with Jesus healing all who touchedhim. There is a correlation between prayer, action, and healing. Those sameprinciples can be applied today to prayer walking.
This nation-wide effort will beepic, as every county in every state participates. It has been an outreachalready forged in hours of fervent prayer by the SEAPC team. Alone andtogether, they have sought God’s will during this unsettled hour. After hearingGod’s voice, it is time to take action.
The action involved is three-fold. Pray. Walk. Pray.
Pray about your individual role. Ask the Lord of the harvest to identify workers. Is he sending you?
Walk through your state, county, parish, or borough.
Pray as you walk: for the land under your feet, for your state and its representatives, for the nation and national representatives, for renewed nationwide commitment to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Healing begins by reaching out.When Peter left the boat, he walked effortlessly on the water because hefocused on Jesus. Only when he stopped seeking his Savior did he falter andalmost drown. He had the faith to reach for Jesus once again by crying out, “Lord, save me!” When Jesus landed on theshore, people brought all their sick tohim. They reached out on behalf of others. All who touched him were healed.
During Pray Americas, those whohave absolute faith in Jesus’ ability to do the impossible will be walking andpraying. God hears prayers, including intercessory prayer for others and forsituations. He longs to have a relationship with every person on earth. Thereis not a single soul he wants to see perish. None. But we have to do our part.
Storms are not calmed without anoutside influence. Distracted people are not saved from drowning. Those whocan’t do it for themselves require concerned others to step in and do theasking.
Jesus walked across a tempestuous expanse to Peter. One to one. But the culmination of the walk on water was a walk to the cross followed by a walk out of the tomb. One for all. The One who calmed the seas can calm the land as well. America does not have to be splintered in the gusts. It can, instead, be put back together through faith, hope, love—and the simple act of prayer. We may not be actually walking on water, but prayer will keep our nation afloat.
