When I read the story of Jesus walking on the water and calming the storm, I can’t help but try and picture what that must have been like for the disciples in that boat. I then try and place myself in their shoes (or sandals, really). Would I have been terrified thinking Jesus was a ghost walking on the water? Would I have been brave enough to ask Jesus to call me out of the boat like Peter?
Jesus doesn’t just calm the storms over the sea, he can also calm the storms we walk through in our daily lives. He’s not only King of kings and Lord of lords, he’s also the One the wind and waves must obey. Even if you substitute wind and waves for life’s trials and struggles, the idea here is Jesus is the boss. He’s in complete control.
So, what are the “wind” and “waves” in your life today? If Jesus called you out of the boat like Peter would your eyes be fixated on him or your situation?
I like to think my eyes would be glued to Jesus but if I’m honest I’m a lot more like Peter than I probably want to admit. And so, I want to share with you three simple, yet powerful ways to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Fixing our eyes on the Sustainer of all things will change your perspective. Your situation may not change, but a change of perspective can open the door to incredible faith.
1. Develop a Consistent Prayer Life.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray constantly.” Prayer is also the one thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them in Luke 11:1, “He was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.’”
Prayer was important to Jesus and the disciples. Prayer can help keep our focus on Jesus, especially when the wind and waves begin to batter us.
2. Surround Yourself With Like-Minded Believers.
It’s no secret that Christians need community. We see in Acts how the early church was intentional in fellowship: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers” (Acts 2:42).
They were devoted to coming together. We need fellowship but within that fellowship we need brothers or sisters in Christ to keep us accountable. When the wind and waves come, we need those who will remind us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. But not only that we need them to stand with us in life’s hard and difficult seasons.
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to Fill You Daily.
The Christian from the moment of salvation is sealed by the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 1:13-14:
“When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.”
Many seem to think it’s a one and done thing—that we don’t need to ask the Holy Spirit to fill us again. The apostle Paul tells believers in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled by the Spirit: “And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled by the Spirit.”
Having a constant filling of the Holy Spirit will help keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus.
When we live a life devoted to prayer that’s surrounded by our brothers and sisters in Christ to hold us accountable, and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us daily the wind and the waves will be way less worrisome. The Lord may not remove them every time, but if he doesn’t we can be reassured of his presence when our eyes stay fixed on him.
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This article originally appeared on Thinke.org and is reposted here by permission.