Matthew 16:23 - Jesus Knows The Way

Step 1: Pray. Select.

Hello Friends! I am glad you are here with me today.

As I began selecting a scripture to converse with the Holy Spirit, one scripture in particular kept coming to mind. Matthew 16:23, where Jesus tells Peter to get behind him, as Peter protests to Jesus since he does not agree he should go to the cross to be crucified. Jesus recognizes the limited thinking of the flesh and calls out how Peter is not in alignment with the will of the Father.

Let’s begin our journey there today, friends.

Step 2: Write. Read. Circle

After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out amongst the others:

Matthew 16:23 - But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Step 3: Re-Write

With a focus on the words I circled that stood out, here is the personalized sentence that came alive in my heart.

• Jennifer, get behind me, for you are not mindful of the things of God.

If you are doing this alongside me today, add your name in front of your unique sentence so the Lord can speak directly to you.

Step 4: Visualize

When I first heard this scripture, I was a bit taken aback. The tone was harsh and cutting. However, as I sit here and think about Jesus at this moment, I realize that He has already been through so much, and He even asked for this cup to be taken from Him when it was revealed what would happen to Him ahead.

I picture standing in the wilderness. In front of me is Peter and Jesus going at it. I am there, but they do not know I can see them. Just then, Jesus looks my way, as a reminder that he can see me, but Peter can’t. Peter is stewing at what Jesus has announced will happen to him. I can’t help but feel a little frustrated with Peter because Jesus is the one who will feel the pain. Not Peter!

Just then, the Holy Spirit nudges me. That is what I want you to see. You are ready to move forward like David after the LORD's heart and support the will of God without question. Peter is still thinking about his feelings for Jesus and how much it will hurt him to lose Jesus. Are Peter’s feelings right, wrong, better, or worse than yours? Neither! They are all human emotions, and everyone processes the fear of grief or loss in their own unique way.

You are like a bull, heading straight into the storm, rather than a cow that runs at the sight of the storm coming. Both are necessary, and both serve different purposes on Earth. So, what does this have to do with the scripture and my sentence?

The Holy Spirit gently lets me know that even as I become more and more fearless and confident in the promises of the LORD, I must always follow him, even if it is straight into the storm. I see the physical manifestation of the storm. Jesus sees the aftermath, sunlight, peace, and promises beyond the turbulence.

A question arises, so I move to Step 5.

Step 5: Ask. Seek

The requests/questions that came to mind are:

• Holy Spirit, why are you bringing this up today? Is there an area I'm not seeing that you'd like me to focus on?

Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive

Here is the answer I received:

“That is precisely the point. You have some blind spots that require faith. Instead of running into the storms pushing your way through in the flesh, without wisdom, the only thought you need is to locate Jesus, grab onto his hand, and walk through anything life throws at you together. Remember, the LORD has good plans for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. So when Jesus yells to get behind him, he sees something you cannot and will protect you. But you must have faith that he is doing Kingdom work, which our eyes have not seen, and our ears have not yet heard. Which has nothing to do with working for the manna, which is based on things already seen and heard in the flesh. His missions are always bigger and require more discipline of the flesh. But the rewards are much greater in Heaven. There is nothing that fulfills you more than to live a good life pleasing to the LORD and witnessing others live the same way. Remember this as you go forward into the harvest season coming soon. The tides will be turbulent, but amid the storms, if you can find Jesus, who is the eye of the storm, the place where nothing moves but everything moves around him, you will land on the rock and build a legacy in his honor for generations to come. Be encouraged today. Do good work. And look for the LORD in all things. If he is not there, do not enter the place.”

Step 7: Pray. Confirm

If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone.

Step 8: Share. Testify

If you used the 8-Step Prayer Practice today, we want to see how God is working in your life! You can comment below or share your miracle or testimony HERE.

Conclusion:

Friends, it's good to know that I have a straightforward, tangible step in every situation: look for Jesus!

When you see Him, hold on tight to Him. Then go forward in faith, knowing He has sight where you have blind spots and have already seen the outcomes.

Take refuge under his wings today, friends! The Harvest is coming, so be ready to gather the fruit regardless of the weather.

God bless you, and see you soon!