Eyes fixed on Jesus

The story of Jesus walking on the water is one that many of us know well. The disciples had been caught in a storm, battling strong winds and rough seas through the night. Then, in the middle of everything they were facing, Jesus came to them walking on the water.

At first, they were terrified, thinking they had seen a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage it is I. Do not be afraid."

One thing that has always stood out to me is that the storm didn't disappear. The wind was still blowing and the waves were still crashing around him. Peter was able to do what seemed impossible because his eyes were fixed on Jesus. It wasn't until he shifted his focus to the wind and the waves that fear took over and he began to sink.

I think we're often more like Peter than we'd like to admit.

There are times when we step out in faith, trusting God with what He's asking of us. But as life happens, it's easy for our attention to drift. We become focused on the challenges in front of us, the uncertainty around us, or the things we can't control. Before long, the storm feels bigger than the One who called us.

Perhaps God is inviting us to trust Him in an area that feels uncomfortable or uncertain. It could be our family, our finances, our health, our future, our ministry, or something known only to us and Him. The storm may still be there, but the question remains: where are our eyes fixed?

Prayer and fasting don't necessarily change our circumstances overnight, but they do help change our focus. Prayer draws us close to the heart of God, while fasting helps remove some of the distractions that compete for our attention. Together, they create space for us to hear His voice more clearly and remind us that our hope is found in Christ, not in the absence of difficulty.

Worship is part of that response too. It's more than the songs we sing on a Sunday. Worship is choosing each day to lift our eyes to Jesus, when everything else is trying to pull them away. It is trusting that He is still faithful when we can't see the way forward, still worthy when life is difficult, and still present in the middle of the storm.

As we seek God through prayer, worship, and times of fasting, may our desire not simply be for calmer seas, but for hearts that remain fixed on Christ. The goal isn't to pretend the storm isn't there. It's to trust the One who walks on the water and calls us to follow Him.

Prayer

Lord, thank You that You are always faithful, even in the middle of the storm. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You rather than the waves around us. As we draw near to You through prayer and worship, teach us to trust You more deeply and hear Your voice more clearly. Give us courage to step out in faith wherever You are leading us, knowing that Your presence is greater than anything we face. Amen.