When asking God for miracles, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Why is it important to remember this? Because, we generally only need miracles when we are in an epic life-storm. In a storm, the sky is dark, the wind is howling, lightening is flashing, and waves are crashing.
In other words, our vision is limited, it’s hard to hear, fear is near and we lose our balance spiritually. If Jesus can calm the wind and the waves with a word, he can bring our lives back into balance and bring sudden peace where there was terror and despair all around. Let’s read the account from Matthew 14:22-34.
“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.””
Let’s break this down. Jesus sent the disciples alone, without him, in the boat. They were probably wondering why they were alone and what he was going to do to get to the other side of the lake. The boat was a considerable distance away from Jesus – and buffeted by the winds.
How many times does the Lord put our lives on a trajectory and we feel alone – perhaps abandoned by him in our own little boats – with feelings that he is done with us? This is natural way to feel. Did Jesus know that storm was coming? Yes! Did he send his disciples ahead of him into it? Yes!
From the account, we can see that they spent most of the night on the waves in the storm all alone. It wasn’t until almost dawn that Jesus crossed the stormy lake to get to them. The breakthroughs in our lives often happen after a long “night” feeling like the sun will never rise. Miracles happen after the darkest night. And when it is dark, the light shines even more brightly. Just when things were the most desperate, Jesus came walking on the water. His timing was perfect. He had just spent the entire night in prayer with his Heavenly Father. Possibly praying for his disciples.
We know that even though Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of the Father now, he lives to make intercession for us. We never ever walk through a stormy night without Jesus praying alongside of us.
When he came out on the water, the disciples were afraid! How often do we fear the work of God? How often do we shrink back when the Lord shows up to do the supernatural?
But, Peter got excited. Peter saw what Jesus was doing and knew that Jesus could keep him above the waves, if he said the word. And Jesus called for Peter to come meet him on the water. Peter actually did walk on the water! But, the scripture says when he saw the waves, he became afraid and sank.
Peter had the presence of mind to cry out to Jesus to save him. Jesus reached out his hand, saved Peter and asked him why he failed to believe. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we are more aware of the power of God than the ferocity of the storm. Jesus was walking on the water like it was a beautiful spring day. Jesus knew what he could do. Jesus knew what Peter could do, if Peter trusted him. But, Peter got distracted by the storm.
But, in the end, everyone in the boat worshipped Jesus as the Son of the Living God! Even when we fail to trust Jesus – Jesus still catches us and restores us and brings the dawn at the end of the night.
We need to trust Jesus that when we are in a storm, he is:
- Interceding for us to the Father
- Coming to rescue us
- Giving us an example of what we can do to overcome the storm
- Catching us when we fall
- Restoring us and filling us with faith
- Joining us
- Bringing the light to us
We can overcome the storm, if we trust Jesus is coming. When he comes, if we fix our eyes on him, we will see miracles. It’s super difficult to have this type of faith. But, Jesus wouldn’t have asked us to have it, if it wasn’t possible.
So, today, as we pray for our children and grandchildren, let’s pray that God will meet us in any storms we are patiently waiting in.
“Father, in Jesus’ mighty name. We come to you in faith that you are the creator of all the universe. We worship your name. Your name is great! Lord, you made the earth and everything in it. I ask you today that you fill me with faith in this storm. I pray, Oh Jesus, that you will intercede to the Father for my children and grandchildren. You live to make intercession for me, Jesus. I thank you for your intercession! I ask Jesus that you would be my great mediator as I pray for my family. Give me strength, oh Lord. Fill me with your Spirit. Fill me with faith. Fill me with direction and supernatural spiritual wisdom and revelation from the Holy Spirit to pray.
Show me how to pray for my family and their specific situations. Lord, give me a breakthrough for my child/grandchild, in Jesus’ name! Lord, this storm has seemed long and hard, but I see you walking on the water. I see that you command the wind and the waves. I see that you bring peace and miracles to situations that seem hopeless.
I ask that you will glorify your name in this specific situation I am praying for. I ask that you will calm this storm and bring a breakthrough. I pray that you will help me to keep my eyes fixed on you. Jesus, I declare that you overcame the cross, my sin and my death when you rose again from the tomb! I declare the power of Jesus is greater than all my sin, all of the sin of my children or my children’s children. I declare that the power of Jesus and his resurrection is at work in my child! I ask Lord that the resurrection, supernatural power of Jesus will go to my child/grandchild and bring life and power back into their situation/life/soul. I pray you breathe into my child/grandchild the eternal life of the living God. I ask for your forgiveness of sin and your powerful infilling of the Spirit of God in my child’s life.
Lord pierce the darkness of hopelessness in Jesus’ name. Lift the spirit of heaviness off of myself and my children. I command depression and heaviness to leave, in Jesus’ name! Shine your light into my child/grandchild, in Jesus’ name. Lord, may the kingdom of darkness shutter when it sees the power of God unleashing in my children! I pray for your kingdom to come and your will be done on in my children as it is in heaven! Give us everything we need as we walk out this trial.
Bring your peace. Bring your hope. Bring your love. Bring the breakthrough, in Jesus’ name.
Revealed Ministries 