Today, I would like to encourage us to swim.

Today, I would encourage us to jump right into the swimming pool.

That’s correct—jump right into the swimming pool.  Now, quite possibly, you do not wish to jump in because you are more of a “step into the pool” kind of person, or maybe you are a totally avoid the water kind of person while sitting in a chaise lounge by the poolside.

Today, I would like to encourage each of us to JUMP straight into the pool.  Hold our nose (if we must), don our goggles (if we want), even place “floaties” upon our upper arms (if we fear the depth)—BUT JUMP, STILL THE SAME.

Maybe you are reading these words and have two prevailing thoughts running through your mind.

1.  Why jump into a pool of water?
2. Why should we ever desire swimming when we can just as easily walk through life—Without—jumping into a pool of water?

I am so glad you asked.

Go with me in our minds, back to the time when the United States was divided. During the 1860s before the United States was called the U-N-I-T-E-D States, Abraham Lincoln was the leader of the northern territory, and he said these words:  “Sometimes I think I am the ‘tiredest’ man on earth.”

Where is God using us today?

Where has God placed us in service to Him?

What tasks has God given our hands to do?

When we perform these tasks, are we remembering to give God the glory?

Who are we really serving:  mankind or God?

How are we doing with the task God has directed us to do?

Why would we ever consider walking away from the task God has given us to do?

Most assuredly, the Civil War must have been an emotional, physical, and mental strain on Abraham Lincoln.  Surely he felt as if he was “the tiredest man on earth,” yet he continued in his pursuit to lead the people toward peace, and with God’s help, he accomplished that task because we were a nation divided by strife based upon WHERE our ancestors lived.  We lived within a ‘United’ group of states, but we were undivided within our loyalty.  Truthfully, I am so thankful that war does not rage outside my doorway.  In some parts of the world today, that is not true.  Thus, we find ourselves upon our knees praising God for peace upon our soil and we pray, asking for peace upon the soil of our sister nations’ soil as well.  It is a truth—God speaks to all people.  ALL PEOPLE.  God speaks to world leaders just as God speaks to you and me.  Omniscient!  Omnipotent! Omnipresent!  Thank You, God!!!

Today, I would like to encourage us to swim.

Today, I would encourage us to jump right into the swimming pool.

Yes, into the deep end, but before we jump, we need to be able to swim, so we must prepare our bodies, learn the ways of swimming (so as to not drown), place upon our bodies the proper clothing garment for swimming so that our pockets are not laden down with heaviness.  Then, we are to jump into the water—of the swimming pool—where God directs us to jump.

To jump into a perfectly good pool of water, we need two things—Direction & Courage.  Yes, that’s right.  Direction & Courage—because there are so many swimming pools available, and if we are not careful, we can spend our entire life jumping into wrong pool after wrong pool.  Therefore, we need to pray (before we jump) asking God to lead us to the correct place He would have us swim.  Then, as we jump, we are to continue praying—AS we jump, asking God to reveal to us HOW we are to swim (what swim stroke is best for today), & WHERE we are to swim (on top of the water or beneath), & WHAT LENGTH we are to swim within this pool, & WITH WHOM we are to swim within the pool where God has directed us.

Now, let me pause to say that I am not a strong swimmer.

Let me also say that my husband swims not so well either.

Sydney swims well and can sustain herself for quite a length of time.

Marieke swims well, with endurance, within any depth of water, and for any length of space.

And my mom, well, she swims—like a rock; nonetheless, still she swims in the living water.

Nevertheless, HOW we SWIM does not detract from the fact—We must each swim.

We each are—called INDIVIDUALLY to swim—in the living water of Almighty God.

We are each called by God Himself to swim, wherever He leads us to swim.

We are each pursued by the Master to jump.

We are each promised by the Savior that He will sustain us—As we jump into His arms.

We are called to jump, to swim, to float, to be in the pool, to be in the PRESENCE of GOD, & to TRUST GOD’S DIRECTION, HIS PLAN, & TIMING—AS WE JUMP IN!

There is a statement that reminds us WHO strengthens us each day.  Let us not strive within the strength that we know resides within us but let us strive within the strength of Almighty God, who remains “endlessly” strong. It is God who renews our strength day-by-day-by-day-by . . . .

Every single day, God’s mercy is new.

Every day, God’s grace is provided.  It is ours to receive!

So, let us NOT try to live this day—Today—in our own strength but let us remember that we are to follow this life plan—

1.  Know God.  Accept His Free Offer of Salvation Provided Through the Shed Blood of Jesus.
2. Praise God Every Day for His Amazing Gift of Salvation.
3. Go With God Throughout Every Single Day, Sustained by His Holy Spirit Living Inside Us.
4. Walk With Jesus, Realizing & Remembering, He Walks Beside Us.
5. Obey God, Every Moment of Every Day We Live!

Today, I would like to encourage us to swim.

Today, I would encourage us to jump right into the swimming pool.

Today, I would like to encourage us to swim.

That’s correct—jump right into the swimming pool. 

May we prepare our bodies to learn how to swim, may we wear the proper clothing garment appropriate for swimming, and may we jump straight into the water—of the pool—where God directs us to jump.

Then, as we poise our bodies upon the edge of the swimming pool with our toes circled around the edge of the pool, as we take our “best dive-in” posture, as we (possibly) hold our breath by plugging our nose, let us remember the MOST IMPORTANT PART NECESSARY for SWIMMING.

SEE WITH ME GOD’S WORD for THIS TRUTH.

“I will give You thanks with all my heart;

I will sing praises to You before the gods.

I will bow down toward Your holy temple

And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word

according to all Your name.

On the day I called, You answered me;

You made me bold with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O LORD,

When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

And they will sing of the ways of the LORD,

For great is the glory of the LORD.

For though the LORD is exalted,

Yet He regards the lowly,

But the haughty He knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

You will revive me;

You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

And Your right hand will save me.

The LORD will accomplish what concerns me;

Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting;

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”

(Psalm 138: 1-8)

Another Bible translation records Psalm 138:8 this way.