Take a few deep breaths to center your heart and your mind as you prepare to meet with God.

Meditation

Ezekiel 36:26 says this: “And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.“ (Ezekiel 36:26)

Take a moment and ask yourself this question: What hardens your heart towards God?

Teaching

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and head across the lake to Bethsaida, while he sent the people home. After telling everyone goodbye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. (Mark 6:45-52)

The disciples witnessed Jesus personally, something I know most of us would long for the opportunity to do. They got to witness him perform miracles and change lives in person. However, we see the disciples in this moment still focusing so closely on what is happening to themselves that they've become numb to the fact that the very man they are following is the Son of God. Jesus, who they just witnessed feed 5000 people with a basket full of food the day before, is in the boat with them and could come and save them at any moment. They don’t fully understand. How can that be possible?

We are blessed to live in the light of the sacrifice of our Lord and savior, with four written gospel accounts as track records of his love, power, and faithfulness.  We are blessed to live in a time where the Holy Spirit dwells within us and we are gifted the greatest gift humanity has ever received. But our hearts can become hardened just as easily as the disciples when we let our own vices tear us away from the one who wants us to commune with Him. 

Examination

Take a moment to think through this question: what is causing your heart to be hardened like the disciples on the boat?

What causes you to miss the miracles God is doing all around you?

Memory Verse

Whether you write it down and put it somewhere you'll see, or you put it into a reminder on your phone, find a way to take Mark 6:51 with you today.

Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed. (Mark 6:51)