One of the areas God is working in my life right now is leading me into new dimensions of prayer. God is calling you and I to devote ourselves to prayer, to give ourselves to prayer. The early apostles said in Acts 6 that they would give themselves to prayer (4). Paul later exhorted the Colossian believers to devote themselves to prayer (4:2). That is what God is calling me and you. Do you know what it means to give yourselves to prayer? Don't give yourselves over to sin, to sensuality, to greed, to anger, to idolatry. Give yourselves to prayer. Give your heart and time over to God for the sake of prayer. Yield yourselves to prayer.

If we as a church are to be a house of prayer for all nations, we need to give ourselves individually to prayer. You ask, "How do I do that?" Begin with a short prayer. The first prayer God delights to answer is "Lord, teach me to pray."

Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

The first request you bring to God in learning to pray is "Lord, teach me to pray." You can pray it regularly. You can pray it often. It doesn't matter if you were born again three weeks ago or if you have walked with God for three decades. It doesn't matter if you're seven or seventy. If you pray this prayer honestly before God this week, I guarantee that you will come back next Sunday and you will say: "You know what? I took your spiritual counsel. I prayed honestly and sincerely 'Lord, teach me to pray,' and guess what? God began to teach me some new things about prayer!"

Could it be that God the Father himself is calling you to prayer? Could it be that the Lord Jesus himself is going to teach you to pray? Could it be that the Spirit of God himself is giving you a fresh spirit of prayer? "Lord, teach me to pray."

The short prayer we're going to look at more in detail today is a prayer that fits when we're facing the storms of life. How do you face the storms of life? How do you pray in the storm? Perhaps the most famous short prayer was Peter's prayer when he walked on water to Jesus and he felt himself sinking. He prayed a very short prayer. In Matthew 14:22-33 we learn what Jesus does When You're Facing the Storms of Life and what he teaches about prayer in those moments.

Jesus compels you to go the right direction.
Right after the miraculous feeding of the 5000 on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus made his disciples cross the lake while he went to pray.

Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made [anagkazo = compelled] the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

The Greek word in verse 22 for "made" is anagkazo. It means "compelled." "Jesus compelled the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side." The parallel passage in John 6 points out that because of the miraculous feeding of the 5000 the crowd wanted to come make Jesus king by force (14-15). Jesus knew their motives and purposes were not God's will. He didn't want his disciples complicating the issue by supporting plans that weren't from God. So he compelled them to move on. Sometimes in your blissful ignorance, others might easily sway you in a particular direction that you think is God's will. And the Lord has to give you a shove to compel you to go the right direction.

When author Elisabeth Elliot was a young girl, her family spent a week at the New Jersey seashore. She had a wonderful time playing in water because her father was there with her and she trusted him to keep her safe. But her younger brother was afraid of the waves and refused to go in the water despite his father's coaxing. Then, on the last day of the vacation, he began to feel secure with his father at his side. But his shouts of glee suddenly changed to a wail. He cried, "Why didn't you MAKE me go in?" That might not have worked, but there are times Jesus compels you to go the right direction. This makes more sense when we look at the next two verses, because . . .

Jesus directs you into a storm to perfect you.
Matthew 14:23_24 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, [24] but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Jonah was in a storm because he was OUT OF the Lord's will. The disciples were in a storm because they were IN the Lord's will. Jesus knew the storm was coming. Jesus deliberately directed them into the storm. They were safer in the storm in God's will than on dry land with the crowds out of God's will. There are storms of Correction, when God disciplines us. And there are storms of Perfection, when God helps us grow. Jonah was in a storm because he disobeyed God and had to be corrected. The disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Christ and had to be perfected.

There is a story about a young bank cashier whom they named the successor to the retiring bank president. One day the young man went to the senior officer and said, "As you know, I'm going to follow you as president, and I would be grateful for any advice you might have." The president said, "Son, sit down. I've got two words for you, just two words: Right Decisions." "That is very helpful, sir," replied the young man, "but how does one go about making right decisions?" "One word - Experience." "That is also helpful sir, but how does one gain experience?" "Two words," said the older man, "Wrong Decisions."

Maybe you've heard that the class yell of the school of experience is "Ouch!" The Christian life does not mean smooth sailing. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). If you are in a storm because you have obeyed the Lord, rest assured. God directed you there. God will care for you. God will perfect you. Not only does Jesus compels you to go the right direction, Jesus directs you into a storm to perfect you. Now you're in a storm. Jesus put you there. What happens next?

Jesus sees the storm and comes to you.
Matthew 14:25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

Mark's gospel clarifies what Jesus saw.

Mark 6:48a He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake.

Let's paint the picture. Jesus sent his disciples in a boat to cross the lake, and he had gone up into a mountain to pray. As the night wore on, he began to walk around the lake to reach the other side. Very likely it was near the Passover time, in the middle of April. Because of a full moon, Jesus could clearly see the men in the boat fighting with the wind and the waves. So after three o'clock in the morning, the beginning of the fourth watch, he went out to help them. Jesus came to them - walking on the water. When the winds of life are blowing against you, when the waves of life are a struggle, Jesus sees you and comes to you. He is there for you. When you struggle with yourself, your circumstances, your temptations, your griefs, your decisions - Jesus comes across the storms of life with his hand outstretched to save you. If necessary, he will walk on water to come to you! Jesus sees the storm and comes to you. The Lord said in:

Isaiah 43:2a When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

Have you heard Annie Johnson Flint's poem based on this verse? It's one of my favorites. She entitles it "Passing Through."
"When Thou passest through the waters,"
Deep the waves may be, and cold,
But Jehovah is our refuge
And His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself hath said it,
He the faithful God and true:
"When thou comest to the waters,
Thou shalt not go down, but through."

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,
Bitterest anguish, fiercest pain,
Rolling surges of temptation,
Sweeping over heart and brain,
They shall never overflow us,
For we know His word is true;
All His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely through.

Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt's insidious undertow,
Shall not sink us, shall not drag us
Out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise shall sustain us,
Praise the Lord, whose word is true!
We shall not go down nor under,
He hath said, "Thou passest through."

As you're passing through your storm . . .

Jesus calms your fears and imparts courage.
Matthew 14:26_27 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. [27] But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Did you ever wonder why Jesus walked on the water? Jesus walked on the water to show his disciples that the very thing they feared was the very pathway for him to come to them. What do you fear? That is the path Jesus takes to come to you, to calm your fears and impart courage.

The newspaper advice counselor, Ann Landers, recently passed away. She received an average of 10,000 letters a month. When asked if any one problem predominated throughout the letters she received, she replied that the one problem above all others is fear. People are afraid of losing their health, their wealth, their loved ones. People are afraid of life itself. In what situation in your life to you need to hear Jesus' words, "Don't be afraid"?
The disciples were afraid because they weren't looking for Jesus to appear there! They weren't waiting in faith for Jesus to show up. "Must be a ghost!" Fear always blinds people from seeing the presence of the Lord. Jesus says to you today, "Take courage! I've directed you into this storm. I'm right here with you. Don't be afraid!"

Jesus calls you to step out in faith.
Matthew 14:28_29a "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell [keleuo = command] me to come to you on the water." [29] "Come," he said.

The word in the Greek for "tell" is the word keleuo. It means "to command" as a king would give a command. Peter knew that Jesus Christ was King over all creation, including the winds and the waves. The elements of nature must obey the words of Jesus. Peter recognized Jesus as King over that storm! "Command me to come!"

What would you have done if you were in that storm sitting in that boat, and Jesus said to you "Come"? Would you have been daring? Simply scared? Would you have said, "I'll try anything once"? Would you have been cautious - just stick out your big toe first? How are you at "stepping out of the boat" and taking risks when Jesus says "Come"?

Did you hear about the man who was shamefully intimidated by a bossy, domineering wife? During an argument, she began chasing him around the house with a broom. Finally he dashed into the bedroom, dove underneath the bed, and slid back toward the wall as far as he could. Prodding him with the broom handle, his wife shouted, "Mortimer M. Milktoast, you come out from under there!" Cowering in the darkness, he cried out in a trembling voice, "I won't do it! I don't have to. I'm the master of this house!"

Where do you feel God is leading you (maybe prodding you) to get out of the boat now? In your job? In your relationships? About your future plans? In your spiritual life? In your prayer life? One of the prayer requests that I came home with from General Council in Tennessee was to learn intercessory prayer: "Lord, teach me to pray. Lord, teach me intercessory prayer." Of course, it's not like I don't know anything, but I want to learn more. Now a couple of months later, the Lord Jesus has called me out of the boat. It's new territory. It's an adventure.

Stepping out in faith takes courage. Stepping out of the boat means believing that God can turn the watery depths of the sea into a pathway toward him and his plan for you. Maybe you have taken other "safe" paths before. But you discovered that these safe paths didn't take you where you really longed to go spiritually. They were familiar paths. You felt comfortable. But now, with your eyes fixed on Jesus, you must face your fear of the unknown and get beyond it.

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage means taking advantage of the little strength you have, finding little ways to encourage yourself in the Lord, and stubbornly following the Lord's direction. It means finding enough strength to take the next step in the right direction. Where is Jesus calling you to step out of the boat in faith and walk on water? Jesus calls you to step out in faith. How are you facing the storms of life? Get ready, this is where . . .

Jesus empowers you to do the impossible.
Matthew 14:29b-30 Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Before we criticize Peter, let's look at three things he did right.

1. Peter was the only disciple who left the safety of the boat! He dared to be different. Anybody can sit in the boat and watch. But it takes a person of real faith to get out of the boat and walk on water.
2. Peter was the only disciple who walked on water! What are the other disciples doing? Nothing? Shaking in their boots? Watching Peter? No other disciple in the New Testament can say he walked on water except Peter. Somebody might try to say to him later, "Say, Pete, I heard that your faith wavered because you took your eyes off the Lord and began to look at the circumstances around you." And Peter can say, "Yes, but I walked on water! Have you?"
3. Peter was the only disciple who knew he was sinking and cried out for help! Notice that Peter cried out when "beginning to sink," not when he was drowning! The moment he realized his plight, he cried out in faith. He didn't try to swim on his own. He didn't wait until he was going under for the third time. As soon as he began to sink, he cried out for help.

Little Dennis began falling out of a tree and cried, "Lord, save me, save me!" There was a pause and then he said, "Never mind, Lord, my pants just caught on a branch." Jesus walked on water, and then he empowered Peter, through faith, to do the same. He heard Jesus say "Come," stepped out in faith, wobbled with fear, and together with Jesus they walked on water back to the boat. What miracle would you like Jesus to do in your life?

In the early days when people were crossing America on horseback, a party of explorers came to the Susquehanna River. It was the spring of the year and the waters were turbulent and deep. Surveying the situation, they decided they would have to ford the river in spite of the flood. As their horses waded out toward midstream, dizziness almost overcame one rider. Seeing the swirling waters on all sides, he began to sway in the saddle. His companion, noting his plight - and fearful lest he should fall from his mount - shouted, "Look up, man! Look up!" The dizzy traveler heeded the command and regained his balance. Looking up is also what kept Peter from nearly drowning. Because he got his eyes off the Lord and onto himself and the angry waves around him, he began to sink. In the middle of your storm, Jesus empowers you to do the impossible. There's one last aspect.

Jesus reaches out to catch you when you stumble.
Matthew 14:31_33 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" [32] And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. [33] Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Peter started with great faith and ended with little faith. This word "doubt" means "standing uncertainly at two ways." Peter saw two ways instead of one. It is true that Jesus chides him for doubting, but let's not forget that Jesus did not let him drown. You may trip up. You may blow it. But God is not going to let you stay there. The Lord Jesus reaches out to catch you when you stumble. Then he calms the storm.

The 16th century reformer Martin Luther was often overcome with depressing doubts. On one such occasion a friend said to him, "Our Lord in heaven is looking down and probably thinking, 'What shall I do with this man Luther? I have poured my mercies upon him and given him many gifts and much grace, and yet he will despair of my goodness.'" These well_chosen words lifted Luther out of his gloom and uncertainty and brought him peace.

With his eyes on Jesus, Peter was walking on top of the water. The next moment he was in over his head. Soaked to the skin, Jesus rescued Peter. Jesus reaches out to catch you when you stumble. What about that short prayer Peter prayed - "Lord, save me!" The main message on prayer is this - when you're facing the storms of life . . .


Short prayers pierce heaven!
Sometimes we think that long prayers are better. But do you know what the best prayer of all is? The prayer that God answers! I would rather have a short prayer answered than a long prayer unanswered!

When a person is overcome by fear in an emergency, such as fire or a person dying, that person instinctively cries out for help to come at once. How does a person do that? Not with many words. It would take too long to explain. A person bursts out all at once with great emotion and cries a little word of one syllable - the word "Fire!" or the word "Help!"

And just like the little word "fire" stirs and pierces others, so do short prayers expressed from your heart touch heaven. Those short prayers pierce the ears of Almighty God. Short prayers prayed from the depths of your heart reach the heights of heaven. Even as you cry out to God from the depths of your being, God immediately extends his hand of grace and mercy to you. Short prayers pierce heaven!

A former president of Moody Bible Institute told the story of a missionary who prayed a short prayer. A missionary was evacuated by a freighter from a South Pacific island during World War II. The vessel had to zigzag through hostile waters to avoid detection by submarines. One day a periscope appeared above the surface of the ocean. That's when he learned to pray specific, short prayers. The missionary said, "While the enemy was looking our ship over (probably trying to decide whether or not to sink us), we cried, 'Lord, stop his motors! Jam his torpedo tubes! Break his rudder!'"

When Peter walked on the water and then began sinking, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Sometimes the shortest prayer of all directed heavenward is all we need - "Help!"

What is the prayer of your heart today? In one sentence, what do you want from God? As you quiet yourself before God and listen to your own soul, what is the cry of your heart? If you're facing a storm, it may be as simple as "Lord, help me!" Short prayers pierce heaven!