Focus
As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.
Read
Luke 8:22-25 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”
Reflect
Growing up in Southeast Arkansas, outdoor sports were always a part of my life. Outdoor safety went right along with that, also. That meant never pointing a loaded gun at someone, double checking the safety, always wearing a life jacket when we were in a boat, and never getting on the water during a storm. I remember being terrified several times when a big storm came up while I was on an aluminum boat in the middle of a lake as a big thunderstorm rolled in.
We’ve all been in this situation, in some form or another, at some point in our lives. Here we are in a relatively small boat, and there is a real threat. A furious storm comes up, the waves are coming into the boat, and we’re bailing for our lives only to realize that we are fighting a losing battle. And to make matters worse, Jesus is asleep in the boat; in other words, he isn’t bringing any relief to our apparent hopeless situation.
And when we come to Him about the situation, He tells us, “Why are you panicking? As My followers, you shouldn’t panic no matter how bad the situation may be.”
As believers in Jesus Christ we are unique. We have something that nobody else possesses, the presence of Jesus Christ inside of us. We have no reason to panic because Jesus is in our boat.
Pray
Gracious Lord, create in us a faithful heart, so that no matter what may happen to us, we remember your calmness and peace, even in the midst of the most turbulent storms.
Go with God!
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