Say no to deceitful manipulation and yes to creative persuasion.

By Ana Li Cortés

I love the story from the Bible aboout Peter and when he came out of the boat and walked towards Jesus. There are many people who focus more on the part of the story that says because he stopped looking at Jesus in the eye, he sank. Instead, I prefer to see the positive side of it. First of all, Peter was the only man, besides Jesus, who had walked on water. Just with that, I am on his side. Secondly, he was the only one who dared to leave the boat. Remember he was not alone, in the boat were the other disciples and that they too had the same chance. Can you imagine all that could have crossed his mind at that moment? He had to manipulate his mind in an amazing way to be able to believe that he could walk on water. In third place, Peter needed to have a lot of faith for the moment he exited the boat, so that what he was visualizing could come to happen. Besides, he had to activate his faith, his mind and his passion, every one of the cells in his body had to agree with each other at the moment when he first put his foot out of the boat…

Yes, it is true, Jesus was waiting for him; on the other hand, Peter had first to make that decision in his mind and then let himself be guided by his faith, which according to its results, was impressive.

I have seen many people getting out of the swamp of poverty and debt simply by having faith, resolve and vision. These are people who, with nothing in their pockets, one day decided to get out of the boat of poverty, debt, hesitation and deceitful manipulation to move to a place of creative persuasion. Through it they allowed themselves to visualize what could happen if only they could get out of that boat of destruction. I can provide a testimonial to this. And if I, someone who had no chance at all, was able to make it, I know you can make it too. Believe in yourself; believe that the time has come to get out of the boat! Jesus is waiting for you over the water! Don’t think of what could happen, because when you get out of the boat there is no turning back. You will get on another boat that will take you to another level in your life, and so you’ll start creating your future just the way you want it. It’s just that you make the decision that the boat you are on today is not for you anymore, that you don’t fit in it anymore, because it stinks, it smells bad and you hate it. So, bring out all of the passion inside your heart, do it for you first and foremost, and then for your family, but above all, for the person you can become along the way. Do it for that person we all need to know because your experiences will also serve as encouragement, as an example to help us get out of our boats and jump into the seas of abundance.

So if you are going to lie to yourself, at least do it with something that is worth it and that will help you grow; even better, persuade yourself in a creative way that you can become much more than what you have dreamed to be, and who knows? Maybe then you would hear the voice of Jesus inviting you to walk over the water. Decide today to change the diet of your soul, spirit ad mind and you will see how you will look better in the outside.