Water’s Edge: A 31-Day Devotional, Volume 2

By Dr. Sandra L. Bailey and Dr. Sharon A. Maylor

Do you feel like you are stuck in life? Are you longing to do a little more, but you are hesitant because of seemingly difficult circumstances? Do you long to hear God’s voice, coaching you to launch out into the deep? Through biblical stories, personal reflections, and practical tips, Water’s Edge challenges the reader to take a step into a God-direction life in order to live more authentically and maintain inner peace. In each day’s reading, you will discover meditations bathed in scripture that will help bring clarity to the difficult decisions you are faced with everyday life.
Water’s Edge Volume 2 complements volume 1 to further support you in your quest for a deeper awareness of abundant living. It’s perfect for individual devotions or as a foundation for prayer partners and group studies. This devotional invites you to leave the mundane shores of complacency and soak in the promises of God. Each day’s devotional will prompt you to pray, reflect, make steps for change, or create a plan of action that you can apply to your circumstances. Take the plunge. Set aside time to reflect, recharge, and refresh. Step into the waters of possibilities. Wade out a little bit deeper into the sea of biblical promises and know that God is by your side every step of the way.
“And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest)” (Joshua 3:15).

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781546274742

Dr. Sandra L. Bailey

Dr. Sandra Bailey is a strategic thinker and a lover of life. She is a multi – talented international Evangelist, public speaker, thought leader, life coach, radio show host and the author of “Called to Worship ~ A Lifestyle of Praise” and “Overcoming Job Loss- A Spiritual Guide” and co- author of “Water’s Edge Volumes I & 2– A 31 Day Devotional.” Born in Jamaica, West Indies, Sandra migrated to the USA to join her mother and siblings. She resides in Englewood, New Jersey with her loving husband Ian of 28 years and her daughter Sanian. Sandra serves as a minister at the Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) in Englewood, NJ. She possesses a strong educational background which has culminated with a Doctorate in Theology, a Master’s in Theology and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. Sandra believes that the combination of her victories, and challenges have made her into the respected mentor she has been. Additionally, Sandra is the co-owner along with Dr. Sharon Maylor of Water’s Edge Network, LLC., a life empowerment and strategic consulting company, and the co-visionary of the conference, “From Average to Awesome – Living A Life of Excellence.” This conference is held annually in October. Giving back is at the core of her being, and so she serves as secretary for the Mind, Body and Soul Health Ministry, New Jersey chapter. This is a charitable organization that gives back to the underserved of Jamaica and other Caribbean countries. She is also the Vice President for the Bergen county chapter of the Jamaica Organization of New Jersey, (JON – J). When she is not wearing all these hats, Sandra likes spending time reading, relaxing with friends or at the spa. Dr. Bailey believes in moving forward and lifting. She blazes the trail in mentoring and assisting individuals to maximize their potential. Her mantra is, “Nothing is impossible with God.” She can be contacted at [e-mail].

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A Prayer To Take The Plunge!

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Father in the name of Jesus Christ I thank you for life, thank you for being a perfect example of perseverance. You pushed pass all the obstacles that were in your way to get to the cross so you could die in my stead. The ridicule, stripes, cruel mocking and pain did not deter you. You had a purpose and your destiny in mind which served as your fuel to persevere. I ask that you fortify me with the strength and the courage that I need to move to the next level in You; in my career; in my finance; in my relationship; in my ministry and in all that You have called me to be.

Let not fear, disappointments, frustrations, naysayers and the lack of faith hinder me from moving towards my destiny. Let not the depth or the murkiness of the water scare me from taking the plunge and launching out in the deep. Open my eyes so that I can see the clearness of the water as I move away from the shore that is filled with dirt and debris. Help me to exercise my faith and trust in You that no matter how deep the water gets You will keep me afloat. Lord I know that You want the best for me but You also require for me to take the risk and the leap of faith that will push me to the next level of where I am desiring to go.

Help me to let go of negativity, self –doubt and jump in with both feet. I realize that I am where I am because I refuse to take the plunge, I will not challenge myself and more than anything else Lord I am afraid to fail. Today, however I am deciding to let go and let You lead and guide me. Today I am determined to jump in with both feet and launch out in the deep for my blessings with the knowledge that YOU are with me. In Jesus Christ name – Amen!

Day 1

Today’s Reading

St. Mark 10:28-31

A Complete Yes

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Then Peter began tosay unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.

St. Mark 10:28

I made a statement once and the thought kept regurgitating in my Spirit that God wants from us a COMPLETE YES!! This muse came from the popular song by Sandra Crouch, Completely Yes. The lyrics of the chorus of the song says:

Yes, Lord, yes, Lord,

From the bottom of my heart

To the depths of my soul.

Yes, Lord, completely yes;

My soul says yes.

As I replayed the lyrics over and over in my mind all I kept hearing from the Holy Spirit was; God needs a complete yes. Of course, this shoved me into an introspective mode and I began to examine myself and certainly I came up short in some areas of my life where complete surrender was not exercised. Many times as believers we tend to be more apt to saying yes to God when it is convenient for us; when we think yes is the popular answer among the group or maybe when it does not require anything sacrificial or when we think there is something in it for us.

Unfortunately, that is not the kind of yes that He is looking for. God wants an absolute, total and surrendered YES. He wants us to say yes to Him with no strings attached, no ulterior motives but simply because of His sovereignty. It should not be because of His hands, meaning what He can give to us, but because of His nature and person, He being the only Wise God. The word yes is used as an affirmative answer or decision, there is no ambiguity or gray area with the word yes. The other day I was conversing with a friend and she told me that yes was a complete sentence in an attempt to stop me from further interrogating her. At that moment I wanted her to define yes and so I kept asking her probing questions like, what does yes mean? Finally, in my reluctance, I admitted that she was absolutely correct, yes was indeed a complete statement and needed no additives to describe it.

When Jesus met the fishermen who later became His disciples because they said yes, they did not hesitate. The Bible states that straightway they left their nets to follow Him. St. Matthew 4: 20. They demonstrated total surrender and trust in the one that called them. The disciples did not hesitate or second guess the call but they moved with urgency and acceptance of Jesus’s cry to come and follow Him and He would make them fishers of men. A complete yes was visible not only in their words but also in their deeds because in answering the call they left their secular occupation of fishing to follow Jesus whom they hardly knew at that time. These disciples stepped out and responded in faith, God is looking for the same kind of yes from us today. He wants a whole yes not a partial yes, He desires a yes that will make a difference.

I could not shake the thought that as humans when we develop meaningful relationships and soul ties we are looking for total commitment. Within the boundaries of those relationships we tend to hold each other to the absolute standards. We demand complete commitment, be it verbal or non-verbal expectations and anything short of that we are not too happy. If for some reason we get the feeling that there is not a complete yes or the individuals are not all in we are inclined to pull back and be reserve in our approach to the relationship. If we have such great expectation from each other, think about the sovereign God, He wants all or nothing when it comes to a relationship with Him – an exclusive yes.

Jesus Christ is our perfect example, He answered and demonstrated complete yes when He went to the cross. When the question was asked who would go to redeem Adam’s fallen race, His affirmative answer led Him to the way of the cross causing Him to break down the middle wall of partition so that we can come boldly to the throne of grace. Christ did not half die; the Bible states that He gave up the ghost and completely died. He did not just take a portion of our sins but He bore it all. When He told His Father, Yes Jesus really meant it. He did not get off the cross in the middle of His death (which He could), however, He completed our redemption and cried out It is finished! This was a yes taken to total completion because all the way to Calvary He went for us, died, buried, rose again and is now seated on the right hand of God.

God is looking for that reciprocity of total surrender and complete yes from all of us. He became obedient unto death even the death of the cross so that we can enjoy this full and free salvation. When we sing I surrender ALL - let it be our ALL and not just a fraction of our lives and hold on to the parts of us that we think are too good for Him. Let us not be like Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5), saying a halfhearted lying yes (this is all we sold the land for). Their empty deceptive yes was seen by the Omniscient One and the proclamation of that deceptive yes was punishment by death. Let us be real with our Maker and let our yea be yea and nay nay. He gave His all so that we are able to sit together with Him in heavenly places so when He bids us come, go or stay I pray that we say yes to Him completely. Let us not be like Saul saying, I have performed all the commandment of the Lord, 1 Samuel 15:13 yet he kept back the best of the cattle and spared the King! What King are you sparing, what cattle is bleating that is preventing you from giving Him a total yes?

A complete yes is doing God’s will His way. Have you been keeping back a part of the price? God knows when we are half stepping Him. He asked Ananias, while it remain was it not thine own? Say yes even when it does not make any sense to you and those around you. Yes even when it hurts. Yes even when you think you have given your all. A totally surrendered life to God is definitely rewarding and carries a lot of benefits. Look at the disciples they left all to follow Him and the lines fell unto them in pleasant places, they were rewarded in this life and in the life to come. Next time you sing the song Completely Yes do not just sing it, take time to do an introspection to see if there is an area where you have not completely surrendered to Him.

Let’s pray for each other that the Holy Spirit will shed light upon those half-hearted yes and that we will freely give it to Him. Surrender ALL today, surrender your mistakes, surrender your will, your way, your hurt, your pain and your heartaches. Say and demonstrate daily, YES LORD - COMPLETELY YES; my soul says YES!

Day 2

Today’s Reading

Psalm 90:9-14

84,600

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So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12

What if I told you that there was $84,600 for you to use right now with no restrictions; what would you do with it? What if I told you, it had to be entirely spent in one day or else you would lose it all; no carry over to the next day - how would you use it? What would be your priority? The truth is everyone is given 84,600 seconds in a day to either spend or invest; no more and no less. Time is the great equalizer because it gives the