Do you long for a deeper presence of God in your life?
I know I do.
But I also know it has everything to do with me seeking Him and embracing His presence in my day. It’s not that He’s moved, but that we, at times, allow the busyness of our day to overshadow our time with Him.
Is He calling you to a deeper walk with Him? Will you welcome Him into your day?
You may be familiar with the story of Jesus walking on water to His disciples after the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:16-21. It’s not a story of Jesus sleeping in the boat, nor about Jesus calling you to step out of the boat. It’s also not Jesus calling you to leave your boat, but rather, it’s about Jesus getting into your boat. How willing are you to receive Him in and the promise of His presence?
“Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”
John 6:19-21
The story starts out with the disciples getting into their boat as the evening approaches. They had just experienced the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. Afterward, Jesus went away to be alone with His Father in the mountains as the disciples were heading to Capernaum. While crossing the sea, a strong wind stirred the waters, and after rowing about three to four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the water. As Jesus drew near the boat, the disciples were frightened. But He said to them, “‘It is I; do not be afraid’. So they were willing to receive Him into the boat and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” (John 6:20-21).
This is a story of Jesus nearing His disciples at a rough time in a miraculous way and coming alongside them, joining them, and carrying them through the challenging circumstances. It’s about the willingness of the disciples to receive Him in. Once, the disciples willingly received Him into the boat, the boat immediately landed in Capernaum.
You can have the same experience the disciples had of Christ getting in your boat and giving you peace even in the midst of the storm—teaching you that when you have Christ with you, you have everything. This is the promise of His presence.
Here’s the thing about the disciples at the time of Jesus: They didn’t have Christ with them unless He was physically present with them. It wasn’t until Jesus ascended to the Father that He said He would send the Holy Spirit to live in us (see John 14:15-17).
Today, no matter your circumstances, trials, or storms, His disciples now have Christ with them always. He will bring you through. When you are His and He is yours, you have the strength to walk in the Spirit (see Galatians 5:16) and the power to walk it out (see Colossians 1:29).
Willingly receive Christ to walk with you no matter what you are facing and allow Him in your boat.
Yes, “You are the God who performs miracles; and will display His power among the peoples” (Psalm 77:14 NIV).
Journeying with Him,