Take a Risk!

This is a photo of me as a kid wanting to learn how to swim. Once, without knowing how to swim, I took off my floaters and I went for the deep end and almost drowned. My parents had a foster child named Jim who got to me just in the nick of time! Though I was terrified after that experience, I still wanted to learn to swim without the floaters! I remember as a kid asking my dad to teach me how to swim. First, he taught me the basics: how to float, how to use my arms, how to hold my breath underwater, how to kick my feet.. As soon as I learned the basics, my dad picked me up and said, "Ok, Jess, ready?" I said, "Ready dad!" He threw me in the air towards the deep end and when I hit the water, my instincts kicked in.. I was a bit afraid, but I to my surprise, I found myself swimming! It was a rush! This story of mine is much like a lot of other things that happened to me throughout life and ministry. There were times I simply had to trust the Lord, because it was in His timing, not mine. I would later find out that God was preparing me all along. You will find yourself in the calling of God as Peter, and the Lord will be saying, "Come, walk on the water with me." Even though Peter doubted, he did walk on water - he did do the impossible! He was the only one in the boat willing to take a step of faith!

---

---

​I’ll quote Babe Ruth, “I swing with everything I’ve got. I hit big or I miss big. I like to live as big as I can.” Babe Ruth would often take to the plate and point at the bleachers.. he was always willing to take a risk! So often, we have a foundation where God prepares us in seasons, and then He opens the door and thrusts you out into the water! My dad taught me at a young age to take risks! Many times as believers, we have a good foundation but we fail to recognize our opportunity to take a shot! We can miss our moment to take a risk. Starting a business or a ministry is a risk! So is stepping out to give a complete stranger a prophetic word, or leaving for another country to minister the gospel. Learning to prophesy is a risk; what if the word is wrong? But - what if it’s right? I’ve missed big before, but I’ve also knocked it out of the park many, many times! Learn to hear His voice and always obey! Remember, obedience is greater than sacrifice. Amy and I are praying for you, our friends and partners in ministry. We are praying that God would bless you with risk-taking faith!

Blessings,
Prophet Jesse Shamp

---