Daily Devotions
One of the greatest things our family has had the privilege to do is travel to Israel. We enjoyed seeing all the places Jesus ministered. We especially enjoyed seeing the area around the Sea of Galilee.
We were able to get on a boat like Jesus would have ridden in when He was there. We took off from the shore in Tiberias. We rode on the boat singing praises to Jesus and seeing the area Jesus traveled.
The sun was breaking through the clouds early in the morning and the light shown on one of the mountains. Our guide pointed out that where the sunlight shown is where Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection. It was like the Holy Spirit lit that mountain up for us to see the spot where Jesus ate the fish with His disciples and reinstated Peter (John 21:1-23).
Being on the Sea of Galilee also reminded us of the miracles Jesus displayed. We talked about how Jesus spoke to the multitudes from Peter’s boat (Mark 3:7-12). We discussed about how Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35-41). We shared how Jesus walked upon the water (Matthew 14:22-36, Mark 6:45-56 and John 6:16-21).
When you read the account of Jesus walking on the water in Mark, you are amazed of the power and presence of our Lord. Jesus sends his disciples ahead of Him on the boat while He stays behind to pray on the mountain. Jesus in this moment shows us the importance of prayer. If the Son of God needed to pray to His heavenly Father, how much more do we need to pray.
Jesus walks on the water to get to the other side of the lake. The disciples see Jesus and think He is a ghost. Jesus speaks to them and tells them not to be afraid. Then Jesus gets in the boat with the disciples. He could have walked on pass them, but Jesus knew their fear and knew they needed Him in the boat with them.
Jesus knows your fears and heartaches. He calls out to you when you pray to Him. When you pray to Him, you realize He is in your boat with you.
Sometimes we don’t call on Jesus because we don’t feel like we need or deserve His love and presence. The disciples and the crowd didn’t realize who Jesus was when He was among them. Maybe you don’t realize Jesus’ presence and love around you. Call on Him and feel His loving presence around you. Call on Jesus to ride with you as you navigate the waters of your Christian life.
Have a great day and keep moving forward!
Suggested Bible Reading
Prayer Guide
- Praise the Lord for teaching you the importance of prayer.
- Thank the Lord for His presence when you are fearful and terrified.
- Ask Jesus to give you courage and help you to not be afraid.
- Ask the Lord to be with you in your boat.
- Ask the Lord to keep your heart soft and not to get hardened to His Word.
- Praise God for His Word and that it has the power to speak to you every day.
- Pray for those among you who are sick and in need of a touch from Jesus.
- Thank Jesus for being your Savior and Lord.