Here's a 5-day Bible reading plan and devotional guide based on the themes from the sermon on Sunday, June 21, 2026:
Day 1: The Captain of Your Ship
Reading: Psalm 139:1-12
Devotional: David beautifully describes God's intimate knowledge of our lives—He knows when we sit and when we rise, He understands our thoughts from afar. This psalm reminds us that we are never truly alone on life's journey. Just as Jesus was physically present in the boat with His disciples, He promises to be with us through every season. The question is not whether Jesus is available, but whether we have surrendered control to Him. Are you still trying to captain your own ship, or have you allowed Jesus to take the helm? Today, reflect on areas of your life where you're still holding the wheel. Surrender is not weakness—it's wisdom. When Jesus is the captain, you can trust the direction, even when you cannot see the destination. Let Him chart your course.
Day 2: When Storms Come Suddenly
Reading: James 1:2-8
Devotional: Life can change in a heartbeat. Like the Sea of Galilee, our circumstances can shift from calm to chaotic without warning. A phone call, a diagnosis, an unexpected loss—storms arrive unannounced. James encourages us to consider it joy when we face trials because they produce perseverance and maturity in our faith. This doesn't mean we celebrate suffering, but we recognize that God uses storms to deepen our dependence on Him. Sometimes He allows storms to get our attention when we've become self-sufficient. Other times, storms reveal the strength of our foundation. The disciples were exactly where Jesus told them to be, yet they still encountered the storm. Obedience doesn't guarantee smooth sailing, but it does guarantee His presence. What storm are you facing today? Remember, the presence of Jesus matters more than the absence of difficulty.
Day 3: Fear or Faith—You Choose
Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
Devotional: Peter's water-walking experience teaches us a powerful truth: fear and faith cannot coexist. When Peter focused on Jesus, he did the impossible. When he looked at the waves, he sank. The difference wasn't the storm—it was his focus. We face this same choice daily. Will we magnify our problems or magnify our God? Do we have big trials and a small God, or a big God and manageable trials? The disciples in the boat allowed the winds and waves to become bigger than Jesus, forgetting His promise that they would reach the other side. Faith is taking God at His word, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Today, identify what you're focusing on. Are you consumed by the size of your storm or confident in the power of your Savior? Shift your gaze from your circumstances to Christ. He is bigger.
Day 4: Peace, Be Still
Reading: Philippians 4:4-9
Devotional: "Peace, be still." Three words from Jesus calmed a raging sea. These same words can calm the storms raging within you. Paul writes that God's peace, which surpasses understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This peace isn't the absence of storms but the presence of Jesus in the midst of them. Notice Jesus didn't prevent the storm; He walked through it with His disciples and then calmed it at the perfect moment. Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes He calms His child in the storm. The disciples panicked because they focused on drowning rather than on the One who controls the waters. We exchange anxiety for peace through prayer, thanksgiving, and fixing our minds on what is true and noble. What anxiety are you holding today? Bring it to Jesus. He specializes in speaking peace into chaos. Trust His timing and His presence.
Day 5: Who Is This Jesus?
Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Devotional: "Who is this that even the winds and waves obey Him?" The disciples' question demands an answer from each of us. Jesus is not merely a good teacher, a miracle worker, or a martyr. He is the eternal Son of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the only Savior of the world. Paul declares that in Christ all things hold together—including your life. The same Jesus who calmed the Sea of Galilee wants to bring order to the chaos in your heart. He has power over disease, sin, Satan, and death. No storm is too fierce for Him. But He doesn't force His way into our lives; He waits for an invitation. Have you truly surrendered control to Jesus? Is He your Savior and your Lord? Safety isn't found in the absence of storms but in the presence of Jesus. Today, reaffirm your trust in Him. He is faithful, He has never failed you, and He never will.
Day 1: The Captain of Your Ship
Reading: Psalm 139:1-12
Devotional: David beautifully describes God's intimate knowledge of our lives—He knows when we sit and when we rise, He understands our thoughts from afar. This psalm reminds us that we are never truly alone on life's journey. Just as Jesus was physically present in the boat with His disciples, He promises to be with us through every season. The question is not whether Jesus is available, but whether we have surrendered control to Him. Are you still trying to captain your own ship, or have you allowed Jesus to take the helm? Today, reflect on areas of your life where you're still holding the wheel. Surrender is not weakness—it's wisdom. When Jesus is the captain, you can trust the direction, even when you cannot see the destination. Let Him chart your course.
Day 2: When Storms Come Suddenly
Reading: James 1:2-8
Devotional: Life can change in a heartbeat. Like the Sea of Galilee, our circumstances can shift from calm to chaotic without warning. A phone call, a diagnosis, an unexpected loss—storms arrive unannounced. James encourages us to consider it joy when we face trials because they produce perseverance and maturity in our faith. This doesn't mean we celebrate suffering, but we recognize that God uses storms to deepen our dependence on Him. Sometimes He allows storms to get our attention when we've become self-sufficient. Other times, storms reveal the strength of our foundation. The disciples were exactly where Jesus told them to be, yet they still encountered the storm. Obedience doesn't guarantee smooth sailing, but it does guarantee His presence. What storm are you facing today? Remember, the presence of Jesus matters more than the absence of difficulty.
Day 3: Fear or Faith—You Choose
Reading: Matthew 14:22-33
Devotional: Peter's water-walking experience teaches us a powerful truth: fear and faith cannot coexist. When Peter focused on Jesus, he did the impossible. When he looked at the waves, he sank. The difference wasn't the storm—it was his focus. We face this same choice daily. Will we magnify our problems or magnify our God? Do we have big trials and a small God, or a big God and manageable trials? The disciples in the boat allowed the winds and waves to become bigger than Jesus, forgetting His promise that they would reach the other side. Faith is taking God at His word, even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Today, identify what you're focusing on. Are you consumed by the size of your storm or confident in the power of your Savior? Shift your gaze from your circumstances to Christ. He is bigger.
Day 4: Peace, Be Still
Reading: Philippians 4:4-9
Devotional: "Peace, be still." Three words from Jesus calmed a raging sea. These same words can calm the storms raging within you. Paul writes that God's peace, which surpasses understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. This peace isn't the absence of storms but the presence of Jesus in the midst of them. Notice Jesus didn't prevent the storm; He walked through it with His disciples and then calmed it at the perfect moment. Sometimes God calms the storm. Sometimes He calms His child in the storm. The disciples panicked because they focused on drowning rather than on the One who controls the waters. We exchange anxiety for peace through prayer, thanksgiving, and fixing our minds on what is true and noble. What anxiety are you holding today? Bring it to Jesus. He specializes in speaking peace into chaos. Trust His timing and His presence.
Day 5: Who Is This Jesus?
Reading: Colossians 1:15-20
Devotional: "Who is this that even the winds and waves obey Him?" The disciples' question demands an answer from each of us. Jesus is not merely a good teacher, a miracle worker, or a martyr. He is the eternal Son of God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the only Savior of the world. Paul declares that in Christ all things hold together—including your life. The same Jesus who calmed the Sea of Galilee wants to bring order to the chaos in your heart. He has power over disease, sin, Satan, and death. No storm is too fierce for Him. But He doesn't force His way into our lives; He waits for an invitation. Have you truly surrendered control to Jesus? Is He your Savior and your Lord? Safety isn't found in the absence of storms but in the presence of Jesus. Today, reaffirm your trust in Him. He is faithful, He has never failed you, and He never will.
Archive
2026
January
February
March
April
2025
October
November