Is it wrong to ask for the impossible and desire to see the power of Christ?

This morning Mom, Britt and I were talking about prayer...when is it presumptuous and wrong to ask the Lord for something specific, especially when it seems like you're asking for something that's impossible?  We know that He is able to do all things; nothing is beyond His power.  But would it be presumptuous to ask the Lord to do specific things, even though the heart of your prayer is that God's power would be shown and His name magnified and glorified?  What if He doesn't answer how or when we asked Him to?  What then?  Earlier this morning as I was on my knees in prayer, the Lord reminded me of Peter.  The Lord made the passage in Matthew 14 come alive to me this morning in a new way.  I will attempt to share it below.

Peter was afraid...the storm was terrible, they were being tossed about on the sea, and here comes what they believe to be a spirit walking on the water.  Jesus speaks to them and tells them not to be afraid because it is Him.  Peter then does something that we would say was pretty presumptuous- he calls out and in essence says, "Lord, if it's really You, show me Your power so that I know it's truly You.  Tell me to come walking to You on this raging water."  Jesus says, "Come".  Christ is always ready to show us His power and the reality of who He is!  So Peter gets out of the boat and in faith and the power of Christ comes, walking on the water.  Peter took that leap of faith to believe Jesus- with Him all things are possible.  But then as Peter is walking, he gets scared when he sees the boisterous wind, the waves that look like they're going to pull him under and destroy him.  He starts to sink.   Because of his lack of faith, he deserves to sink, right?  No, never; we serve a merciful and compassionate Savior!  Peter cries out as he's sinking in fear, "Lord, save me!"  And Jesus is mighty to save...He is only an arm length away and He stretches out His hand and caught Peter, saving him from the watery grave that was about to destroy him because of his unbelief.  Christ asks him, "Why did you doubt?".   It was like, "Peter, you started this whole thing out desiring to see my power, the reality of who I am...why then did you doubt Me?  Why did you take your eyes off of Me and stop believing?"  They get back to the ship and they all worship Christ..."Of a truth, thou art the Son of God."  Jesus Christ was glorified and magnified as He revealed His amazing and limitless power!  They were in awe of who He was! 

I find so much comfort in this whole picture!  Here's Peter, desiring to see the power of the Lord in his life in reality.  He asks God for the impossible. He believes Christ and takes the leap of faith to get out of the boat and come walking to Him on the water.  He gets scared, stops believing, lacks faith, and begins to drown.  He cries out to Christ, who he knows is the only One who can save him, and Christ catches him and pulls him up.  Christ rebukes Peter's lack of faith.  And in the end Christ is magnified for His power and the reality of His strength and all things being possible to the one who believes.  Peter didn't have perfect faith, in fact, his faith was pretty weak.  Peter didn't believe God perfectly, in fact, he stopped believing when he was so close to Christ that Jesus could reach out His arm and pull Peter back up.  But Peter had good desires.  He had a heart that desired more of a reality of Christ in his life and desired to believe Christ to the fullest and walk by faith. Peter desired to see the power of Christ at work in his life.

Oh what comfort is in that!  I'm not perfect and neither are you...but as we take the leap of faith, believing in the name of Jesus, no matter how weak and small that faith is, Christ will be faithful to answer us and show us His awesome and limitless power!  Believe Him with me, and let us not be afraid to ask of Christ the impossible that His power would be shown and His name glorified.  Christ will honor that request and show us His limitless power and unending faithfulness!  Oh He is so worthy of all of our trust!  Trust Him, just trust Him and ask for the impossible that you might see and believe His power! And then stand still and watch Him work!

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

(Matthew 14:26-33)

~Posted By Breanna