DAY 20: Perceive June 20, 2015

"He said, "Go and tell this people:
'Be ever hearing, but never understanding;

be ever seeing, but never perceiving.

Make the heart of this people calloused;

make their ears dull and close their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,

and turn and be healed."

(Isaiah 6:9-10, NIV)

MORNING DEVOTION - "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee..." (Psalm 63:1)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 14:22-33

In our devotional time yesterday we read how the disciple's pop quiz turned quickly into an open book test as Jesus asked them to have a seat while He demonstrated how "the bread of life" feeds a multitude of people with a simple offering of child-like faith. The disciples were then put to the task of gathering up the leftovers, each filling their own basket full, while chewing on the bitter aftertaste of humble pie. The Lord dismissed His pupils until it was time for their next lesson. They climbed into the boat and headed to the other side of the lake. One can only imagine the conversation that took place as they huddled together in the boat; or maybe the silence was thick enough to be cut with a knife as they took time to contemplate the events that just took place.

Jesus didn't let them belabor over the previous days' exam too long, for it was time to see if they truly learned anything. "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake" (v.25). Earlier in the day the disciples had trouble believing what they could not see, now, in the early hours of a new day they could hardly believe what was before their eyes. "Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid" (v.27). Jesus, always the faithful Teacher, had a lesson He wanted to drive home to His students. It was time for them to test the core issue that would prevent them from being useful to His kingdom building program - their faith. Peter raised his hand and stepped to the front of the class: "Lord, it it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water" (v.28). Peter had enough time to chew on his failure in the last exercise, and now he was willing to put it all on the line as he stepped onto the water. Unfortunately, this test wasn't about showing his faith, this was about knowing Who his faith was in. Peter was ready to put his faith on display, but the Lord was about to lay his heart bare and show the true motivation behind his request. "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6).

Peter needed confirmation that Jesus had called him out, but that wasn't enough to keep him afloat; he quickly lost focus, having been distracted by the wind and waves, and he began to sink. "You of little faith,' [Jesus] said, 'why did you doubt?" (v.31). Peter wanted so desperately to prove his faith, but he only proved he had much more to learn. If the disciples were going to be able to lead others down the path of faith, they had to pass this test themselves. "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). Jesus wanted them to know that wherever they were He would always be with them, and whenever they cried out to Him He would be there to deliver them, and whatever they asked for He would provide for them. This is an important lesson Jesus desires all of His followers to learn. "We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Heavenly Father,

This morning our eyes are upon Jesus,

the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2a).

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen,

but what is unseen.

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Help us today to not lose our vision, focus,

or perspective, no matter what disruptions,

distractions, or difficulties come our way.

With each new (and expected) testing of our faith

may we prove
our trust in and dependence upon You

and provide an example to the watching world

that will cause them to look upon You and call upon Your holy name.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Peter deserves some credit for his boldness and willingness to step out of the boat and onto the stormy sea, but he took a slight misstep when he asked Jesus, "if". How many times do we pray asking "...if it is your will, Lord?" Jesus wants us to ask with confidence realizing that every time He answers our prayers He brings glory to the Father. The more time we spend in the Word of God the better equipped we are to discern the will of God and are enabled to pray with the assurance that His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Before we pray we ought to take a good look at our surroundings, and then step forward believing our God is greater than our circumstances, and submit our prayers in faith. "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You" (2 Chronicles 20:12b). Instead of trying to show or prove our faith, we need to simply ask God to show Himself to us (reference Psalm 25:4,5); this is a prayer He delights in answering. If we are willing, He will show us "great and unsearchable things we do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

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AFTERNOON DEVOTION - "Evening, and morning, and noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17, KJV).

Scripture Reading: Mark 6:45-52

Jesus sent His students to the other side of the lake while He Himself went off for a holy timeout with the Father. "And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray" (v.46). How He must have desired for His disciples to truly know who He was? Surely, He must have prayed for them that their hearts would be softened to take the seed of the Word He was planting in them. Unfortunately, when He met them on the water, their faith extended only as far as their eyes could see. "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened" (v.51b, 52).

It wasn't enough for them to see with their eyes what He was doing, He wanted them to understand with their hearts. They were entrusted as messengers of the good news of the gospel, therefore it was vital they understand the treasure they were given. "The knowledge of the secret of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you..." (Matthew 13:14). They were His chosen ambassadors to carry His message and lead others to repentance; but they would not be able to lead others where they have not been themselves. "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven" (Mark 4:12).

If we could grasp but one thing at this point in our journey it would be this: Jesus wants us to know Him. Not just mere head knowledge, but true heart knowledge. With every miracle performed Jesus was revealing Himself to His disciples, but this was getting lost in translation as they marveled at the miraculous display of power, and missed the main point of His message. "Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?" (Mark 8:17-19). When we pray we avail ourselves of experiencing fellowship with God Himself - the Giver of life. Every time God astounds us with His power, presence, and provision He is revealing Himself to us, but we, like the disciples, sometimes find ourselves lost in the act or answer itself. When we pray and make our requests of God, we are not asking solely for His blessings, we are asking for more of the One who does the blessing. May the utmost prayer of our heart be for deeper communion with God. The more time we spend with the Lord, the greater this desire will be as we open our heart to more of Him, and He fills our heart with more of Himself!

Heavenly Father,

As You search my heart

I ask that I might seek a deeper understanding of Yours.

I know in asking this You will take me through experiences

that I would not be able to bear if You were not there beside me.

Hold me close to Your heart until my heart beats in tune with Yours.

Break my heart for what breaks Yours until Your love flows

freely through me and empties into the lives of everyone around me.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

We are halfway through our journey. I pray that you are finding precious pockets in your day to retreat to a private place to pray as Jesus did, and that you are experiencing renewed strength and refreshment as you fellowship with Him. I am praying for your protection during this season of prayer knowing that the enemy is relentless in his attempts to distract you and tempt you away from communion with the Lord. Every moment we spend with the Lord in His Word, in prayer, in worship, and in fellowship with other believers we hinder the work of the enemy. Nothing else has the power to disarm Satan and destroy his wicked scheming as the time we spend in the presence of, and fellowship with, the Lord. "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God..." (2 Corinthians 10:4). May you find the hours of your day, and the impact of your work, miraculously multiplied as you make spending time with the Lord your highest priority. "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26).

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EVENING MEDITATION - "...and on His law he meditates day and night" (Psalm 1:2)

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139

When we come to the Lord in prayer we typically have in mind what we want to ask for. We all have a running list of the many needs that are pressing heavy on our hearts and minds. But how often do we ask the Lord to first examine our hearts? And for that matter, how many of us first ask the Lord what is on His heart? Do we even consider when we pray that He has invited us into His holy presence because He wants to share His heart with us. As we meditate on Psalm 139 this evening, let us take some time, before we run straight into His presence and begin to unload what is on our heart, to first ask Him what is on His. Then let us ask the Lord to thoroughly examination our hearts to see what it is that may be preventing us from getting the answer we so desperately desire. The concern of the Lord's heart is the condition of our heart. This evening, let us lay our hearts bare before the Lord, and be willing to confess those unconsecrated and unperfected areas in our life that He wants to purify, cleanse, and make holy tonight. "Yet You know me, O LORD; You see me and test my thoughts about You" (Jeremiah 12:3). Continue to pray for the faithful remnant of prayer warriors all around our nation and world, and especially for those who are joining with us in prayer these 40 days. Pray for perseverance, renewed strength, and power as we stand guard, keeping watch with our Faithful Mediator, and providing the necessary support that keeps the world from going into utter ruin and decay; and faithfully tending the fire of the prayer altar, so that the warm and light of Christ continues in the earth until the whole world sees and perceives the goodness and glory of the Lord, and repents and receives His salvation! I'm praising God for your faithfulness in prayer, and asking Him to bless each one of you today!

Heavenly Father,
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting."

(Psalm 139:23)
In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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"We have to pray with our eyes on God,

not on the difficulties."

- Oswald Chambers

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