From: March 21, 2026
“If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan” (Numbers 32:5 ESV).
Moses recorded how the tribes of Reuben and Gad spoke to him and the leaders of Israel as they stood on the edge of the Promised Land. They saw that the land east of the Jordan was suitable for their livestock, so they requested to settle there instead of crossing into Canaan. Their request was practical and reasonable based on what they could see. Yet there was no mention of seeking the Lord’s guidance before making this decision. Moses initially rebuked them because their request resembled past unbelief and threatened to discourage the rest of Israel. Although they later agreed to help conquer the land, their choice placed them outside the fullness of what God had promised. They did not lose God’s blessing outright, but their geographic location exposed them to greater danger, future division, and spiritual vulnerability.
We often make decisions the same way. We evaluate what looks good, what seems efficient, and what meets immediate needs. Yet we can move forward without ever seeking the Lord. A choice can be reasonable and still fall short of God’s best. When we prioritize convenience over calling, we may place ourselves in spiritually vulnerable places. We may not forfeit God’s grace, but we may expose ourselves to unnecessary trials. Let us bring every major decision before the Lord and trust His promises over our preferences. Let us refuse to settle for what is easy when God has called us to what is greater.
PRAYER: Dear Father, forgive us for the times we have made decisions based only on what we can see. Teach us to seek You first in every choice. Give us faith to pursue Your promises rather than settling for comfort and convenience. Keep us close to You and protect us from unnecessary trials caused by our own decisions. Help us to desire Your best above all else. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 21, 2025
“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4 ESV).
After Peter had fished all night, catching nothing, Jesus came to him and asked to use his boat. He needed it as a speaking platform to teach the crowds gathered there to hear Him. When He finished speaking, He told Peter to put the boat out into deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Peter explained that they had toiled all night without success, but because Jesus commanded it, he would obey. When they did, they caught so many fish that their nets began to break!
Peter let Jesus use his boat and nets. He trusted Jesus’ word over his own experience and understanding. His obedience led to the greatest catch of his life—not just of fish, but of faith. That moment changed Peter forever. Jesus was calling him to something greater, beyond the shallow waters of routine life. Soon, Peter would leave behind his nets to follow Christ and become a fisher of men. When we surrender to Jesus, He takes what we offer—our skills, careers, possessions, and even our failures—and transforms them for His greater purpose.
Is Jesus in your boat? Is He the Captain of your life? Have you surrendered your career, your possessions, your very life to Him? And if Jesus tells you, “Go deep!”—will you obey? The greatest adventure of faith begins when we launch out in full surrender, trusting His word and stepping into the depths of His purpose.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we surrender our lives and all we have to Your Son, Jesus. For He gave His life for us. And the only appropriate response is for us to give our lives fully and wholly to Him. We wait with joyful expectation to hear Christ’s command to “go deep.” For we know that it is in obeying His Word and abiding in Him that we bear much fruit. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 21, 2024
‘And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.’ (Luke 4:41 ESV).
At Simon’s mother-in-law’s house in Capernaum, Jesus healed and cast out demons from a multitude of people who lined up to see Him. Many of the demons tried to speak, rightly recognizing Jesus as the “Son of God,” but He commanded their silence and cast them out. Of course they knew who Jesus was, they had seen Him in glory before their rebellion. They were fully aware of His Sonship, but they had rejected His Lordship.
Many today are like them. They know a lot about Jesus. They may even give mental assent to His Sonship, but this is not the same as bowing the knee to His Lordship. Knowledge about Jesus is not saving faith in Jesus. Right doctrine is not right relationship. As the apostle James wrote, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19).
We must move from knowing about Jesus to actually knowing Him by placing our trust in Him as Lord and Savior.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are glad that we know Jesus as Lord and Savior. For we have believed in Him and received His gift of salvation. We are reconciled to You Father by the blood of Your Son on the cross. We love and worship You and give You thanks for our salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 21, 2023
“Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day. There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority” (Luke 4:31-32 NLT).
The people in the town of Capernaum embraced the ministry of Jesus. So, he made this fishing and marketplace crossroads, located on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee, his base of operations. The ruins of the synagogue in Capernaum still remain to this day, a testimony to the Word of Jesus which went out from there, and across the world. Those who heard His teaching were “amazed,” or as literally stated in the Greek, “thunderstruck.” Today, we might say, “blown away.”
There are still people groups and cities today that are ready to receive the Word of Christ and be amazed by it. All that is needed is for someone to go in the authority of Christ and make that city the focus of their ministry (Matt. 28:18-20).
Or perhaps, we might find that we’re already in the city to which we’ve been called. Does every man, woman, and child in the city know the Good News about Jesus? If we as ambassadors of Jesus have come, then Jesus has come to that town. For Jesus lives in us!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we each have been called to our own Capernaum. Strengthen us to proclaim Your Word to the city to which we’ve been sent. Go before us opening blind eyes and softening hardened hearts that they might be receptive to the gospel. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: March 21, 2016
When Jesus called Peter and his fellow fisherman to follow Him, they left their boats, nets and everything to be His disciples. Sure, there were a few occasions when Peter tried to return to his fishing, but his former life no longer aligned with his new life in Christ. Stop clinging to the former things that held your interest before believing in Christ. Experience the sweet release of leaving your self-effort behind and trusting Jesus with all. Leave and follow. Christ wants to take you places you could never go on your own. What aspect of your former life is keeping you from fully following Christ?