Your words…

“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to You on the water.”  “Come,” He said. And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  Matthew 14:28-31

My words…

Praise

Middle of the night. Dark sky. Dark seas. The wind whips around Peter’s head. Waves splash over the side of the boat, drenching his sandals. But Peter’s a fisherman. He can sail. He can swim. This isn’t his first stormy night. Then he sees You, walking on the sea toward the boat. You know what’s going to happen before Peter does. He makes a faith-filled request. You grant it. He climbs out. As soon as his sandals are supported on the surface of the sea, everything changes. He is suspended on a supernatural plane. He has entered a divine realm, a sacred space with You. He is no longer witnessing it from afar, like watching You feed thousands with so little. He is in it. Events unfold differently there. What could never happen, happens. What could never been seen, is seen. Sandals grounded on liquid. Why not? The fact that Peter desired this when the others didn’t is a testament to his…what? Some scholars say he was too rash, not thinking before he leapt. Maybe. I think he just wanted to be near You. The gap between You and him was too big; Peter wanted to close it. I don’t dwell on what happened next. I just love that Peter climbed out of the boat.

Prayer for me

Before he could turn cartwheels on Galilee, the howling wind drew Peter’s eyes away from You, and the supernatural plane fell away. I can’t identify with sandals grounded on liquid, but I’ve been on crossings with You when I’ve been lured away or scared away. Like Peter, I didn’t doubt You. I doubted me. I don’t have enough faith in my faith. Please help me with this.

Forgive me

I’ve been struggling with my priorities lately, placing projects and hobbies before my time with You. Lying in bed at night, I attempt to make up for lost time, and we both know the futility of that attempt. Forgive the condition of my heart. It’s flabby and needs discipline.

Prayer for others

Lord, I pray for those who have taken their eyes away from You, and they are sinking. Some are terrified. Some don’t care. I pray that something or someone will enter their lives to cause them to reach for Your outstretched hand.

Thank You

Thank You for granting Peter permission to walk with You on the sea. And thank you for saving him. Thank You for walking with me on our own version of the Sea of Galilee. And thank You for saving me. Over and over.

More praise

I often wonder if Peter, while imprisoned in chains, thought back to his stroll on the sea. I imagine he remembered every moment – the thrill of water beneath his feet, the blast of the wind in his face, the grasp of Your reaching hand. He couldn’t have regretted his decision to climb out of the boat. I never have.

Your words…

He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side while He dismissed the crowds. After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone. But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning, He came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. Immediately, Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  Matthew 14:22-27

My words…

Praise

Clockmakers understand the mechanisms of their creations: every gear, wheel, and dial. For them, there is no mystery as to how the clock keeps time. And there is no anxiety when the clock acts up. They fix it. Is it the same for You and Your creation? I think so. For You, there is no difference between pounding waves and calm seas or gusting wind and gentle breezes. It’s all Your creation, and You understand its mechanisms. I see You in my mind’s eye, sandals on sea, robes billowing. Were You laughing with your old friends, the wind and the waves? Oh, to witness the Sea of Galilee celebrating the visit of its incarnate creator!

Prayer for me

There are times, when I am sailing along in life, when the wind is against me. It’s rough going, tiring, discouraging, even frightening. I don’t have the option of turning back or stopping. Life moves on. Day after day – wind in the face. Then, there are days when the wind is with me, the wind at my back. Smooth sailing, nothing to fear. With the guidance of Your Spirit, may I react to the wind in my face in the same way as when it’s at my back: Confident in Your care and praising You for it.

Forgive me

When the disciples saw you walking toward their boat, they assumed You were a ghost. They didn’t recognize You. I do the same. Blessings come my way, and I give credit to the wrong entity (usually myself). Forgive me when I don’t always recognize You in my life.

Prayer for others

I pray for those who are facing torrential storms in life right now. The wind is whipping their faith apart. They are blind to You walking beside them and deaf to Your pleas to be courageous. Open their eyes and ears, Lord. Save them!

Thank You

Thank You for exhibiting Your deity in spectacular ways for me to read about long afterward. I’m grateful for everything I have learned about You from this one stroll over the sea.

More praise

The bookends of Your words, “have courage” and “don’t be afraid,” hold in place the most important message: “It is I.” I’ve been taught this is translated I Am. These words are the catalyst for my courage. When I am weary, You Are. When I am discouraged, You Are. When I am frightened, You Are. That’s all I need to believe.

Your words…

Now every house is built by someone, but the One who built everything is God. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. But Christ was faithful as a Son over His household. And we are that household if we hold on to the courage and the confidence of our hope.  Hebrews 3:4-6

My words…

Praise

The house of God. Trinity House, I call it. It’s not made of brick and mortar. It’s formed within the gentle, provisional, nurturing arms of God. Your arms. Within the breadth of Your arms dwells Your household. Your family. Your heirs. With gladness and honor I declare to be a part of Your household living in Trinity House. There I may speak freely, express honesty (even doubt), and I will be taught and encouraged. It is a place of protection from the Evil One, a place of rest from temptation, a place of counsel from the One who is All Wisdom, All Discerning. Your house is filled with others, yet I am not crowded. It’s a place where laughing is heard along with crying because we rejoice together, and we grieve together. Your house is a place of celebration where sinners are made righteous, and guilt and condemnation are left at the door. An indescribably sweet aroma fills the house. It’s the smell of Your love.

Prayer for others

Lord, I pray for those who stand outside and peek through the windows of Your house. For them, the decision to enter is too costly. I pray for those who avoid Your house. They take the long way around, so they won’t have to come in contact with You or Your household. And I pray for those, the saddest of all to me, who have enjoyed a time as part of Your household but made the decision to walk away. Your door stands open. Lead them all home, Lord!

Thank You

Thanks be to You, God, that there is room in Your household for everyone – no one is excluded. It’s a big house!

More praise

My earthly house provides comfort, safety, and rest. But it will eventually crumble and decay. Your house is a place of eternal comfort, safety, and rest. You have promised me this, and I place my hope in You – a confident hope in the loving Builder, the faithful Son, and the edifying Spirit.

Your words…

Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet, I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!  Luke 12: 24, 27

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus… 

 Hebrews 3:1

My words…

Praise

On my visit to the Grand Canyon, I spent nearly three days considering that stunning hole in the ground. I stared at it. I hiked it. I studied it. I wondered about it. I marveled at it. I gave it three days of serious consideration under no one’s instruction, just my own recognition of its majesty.

You have instructed me to consider other things: birds and flowers. Why? Because I learn from them. And so I have after years of bird watching and flower gazing. Without Your instruction, I would not grasp the depth of Your care for me. Consideration yields understanding. So, when the writer of Hebrews instructs me to consider You, the creator of canyons and birds and flowers, I step into a temple space, a holy realm of contemplation, worship, and adoration. I stare at You. I study You. I wonder about You, and I marvel at You. When I come away, I come away more whole. Is there such a thing? Only in You.

Prayer for me

At the start of this new year, I pray I will seek to consider You more deeply in our set-aside holy time and not take for granted the moments we share. I want to know You more. Guide me to that place.

Forgive me

Part of considering You is Your desire for me to consider others. You emptied Yourself for others to show me how it’s done. But I’m selfish. Forgive me when I just don’t feel like it.

Prayer for others

Lord, I pray for Your church, Your followers who meet as a temple of believers. It’s a misunderstood body within my society – misrepresented and unfairly criticized. Satan rubs his hands together as his seeds of religious hypocrisy, hostility, and discrimination take root in the minds of those seeking justification for their unbelief. Cleanse the temple again in the hearts of those who view it through Satan’s lens. Lead them to the truth.

More praise

When I see the rise of hate acted out in the streets, I won’t despair. I will consider You. When I hear of an injustice which leads me to question Your love and care, I won’t waver. I’ll consider You. When the answer to my prayer is so long in coming, I won’t lose faith. I will consider You. And all the while I’m considering You, You are considering me more.