Happy Summer!!!! I hope you and your family have been able to enjoy each other on a family vacation, BBQ or a day at the beach. During this season, swimming is considered a summertime activity.
Floating is one of my favorite parts of swimming. Webster’s dictionary defines floating as, “continually drifting or changing position. Connected or constructed to operate and adjust smoothly.”
If I’ve become tired from swimming or just want to relax I can just float in the water. When you relax your body, you will move freely in the water. I believe floating is a true example of faith.
Like faith, floating can be difficult to master but is possible with practice. In order to successfully float, we must be willing to be content in every season and willing to relax no matter how things fluctuate in our lives. Practice makes perfect; therefore, the more you float (relax) the more developed your faith will become.
Hebrews 11:1-2 (MSG), “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.”
Just like floating, when we relax and fully trust God, we are able to move freely. The moment we over analyze, anxiety kicks in, we begin to sink; therefore, panicking due to fear of drowning.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT), “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Body Positioning
Experts say “good body positioning” allows you to successfully float. I believe daily devotional time consisting of prayer and reading your bible will allow you to effortlessly float inspite of life’s waves and possible changes. God tells us how to deal with possible fluctuation and changes in HIS word. With God’s help, you will identify your perfect floating position.
How To Float
- Face Down Floating consists of laying face down with your arms and legs wide enough to cover the surface. As believers we sometimes fall (sin) and end up flat on our face. It’s in these moments, we’re ready to throw in the towel that God shows us how to take a deep breath while bringing our legs to the surface (dealing with our mistakes/current circumstances) and feeling our way through life’s water.
- God will provide you with tools to push, glide and kick through your fears, doubts and daily struggles. Take a deep breath and push away from the pool wall (circumstances.) At times you may feel yourself sinking but God will teach you various exercises to keep you moving and afloat. At times, we will experience surprises but spiritual leg kicks (praying and biblical meditation) will help maintain momentum and prevent sinking.
- Many swimmers float with their legs to prevent sinking in the water. It is said that the water pressure on your legs and lack of flexibility will cause you to sink. When you begin to sink, your initial thought is to panic and to kick your legs harder; therefore, running out of oxygen and quickly becoming exhausted.
Experts say it’s imperative that you protect your neck and lower back so your body will stay neutral in the water. I believe this is comparable to how impatient we become when God doesn’t answer our prayer the way we want HIM to. When we focus on why God said “no” or “not yet,” we begin to sink. I pray that you will stay neutral and “trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Our mission in life should not be to swim faster but to float. We can only see where we currently are but God is omnipresent. HE knows what is ahead before we get there. I pray that you will allow God to show you which swim techniques are best for you; therefore, allowing you to float better through the waters of life.
Many novice swimmers use personal flotation devices (floaties) around their arms or mid section which I believe is the equivalent to believers reading the bible.
The more we read God’s Word the more comfortable we become while enduring the waters of life. Many say they never hear from God but more times than not, your answer is in HIS word. I pray that you will allow biblical meditation to help you become more at ease with floating.
We all have our own individual stories and various relationships with God. Your journey with Christ is unique and looks totally different from everyone else. Just like we’re all different shapes and sizes, our bodies react differently to the water (life) when floating. Don’t compare someone else’s floating skills to yours. God will give you various floating exercises that will help you learn how to respond when in water.
The more you practice, the more you will be able to control how your body behaves when the water fluctuates. You may feel too exhausted to swim but God will coach you how to float to your destination.
No matter what exercise you choose to float, you’ll never master the skill without being able to relax. God may not allow you to swim to your next destination until you have confidence in your natural ability to float.
Benefits Of Floating
When you allow God to have free range in your life you may experience the following:
- Detox – removing all toxicity such as self-doubt and worry which improves your health.
- Deep Relaxation – When you fully trust God, you’re at peace and can focus on your purpose in life. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV), “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
- Creativity – Faith allows you to think out of the box and unlock your limitless potential. You may look like a fool to some but floating will allow you to “perceive the world in new ways, find hidden patterns, make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena and generate solutions” with God’s help.
Some people may not understand what God instructs you to do. I’m sure Noah looked foolish building the ark until that storm came. No matter what naysayers may attempt to deter you from doing, allow your faith and creativity to keep you floating.
At times I may feel like I’m sinking but For All I Trust Him because with God’s help: I’m able to relax in the water, know how and when to breathe, glide through the water (circumstances) and learn how to submerge.
I pray as we float through life that we’re all able to make small adjustments when necessary. May we continue to listen to God as we float and prayerfully be able to identify any areas where we might be sinking. I pray that we continue to kick our feet and gently move our hands and arms through the waters of life through prayer and biblical meditation.