“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy about you, by saying: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.  And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:7-9).

Our hearts are focused upon our own desires.  We want what we want.  The truth is, in our sinfulness, we do not know what it is that we truly want.  We create doctrines to elevate the self, rather than the truth.  Receive with humility the truth that Jesus alone is Lord of lords.  We have before us true life and that life is following the Lord wherever He may lead us.  Take up your cross and follow Jesus.

Lord, I like the idea of salvation, but I do not like the reality of it.  You have redeemed me and placed me on the path of following You in this world of suffering.  Guide me to live according to the faith that You called me to, so that I may not play the games this world has invented, but live into the life You give.  You have called me to become like You.  Only You know what that really means.

Lord Jesus, in the example You have given me and with the words You have spoken, guide me this day to live truthfully.  Help me see where I play games with You and others.  By Your Holy Spirit, guide me in my thoughts, words, and deeds to live according to Your commandments.  Lead me to know that in You alone is there hope for life, meaning, and life eternal.  Amen.

“But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,” he is not to honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:5-6).

We use excuses to not do what is right.  In our own minds, they may seem plausible, but the Lord has made the rules simple and common to all.  Do not think you are clever, for there is nothing new under the sun.  Instead, simply follow the commandments and know that we have obligations that need to be fulfilled.  If you love the Lord, you will humbly seek to do as He has commanded.

Lord, You know I know how to play games.  I have not obeyed Your commandments, and I have justified this with some kind of excuse that those around me agree with.  But You are the audience of One whom I must serve.  You alone are the One who will judge me at the end of days.  Yes, I know I have grace; but teach me to live seeking to obey what You have commanded.  Your commandments are not just about my behavior, but about showing me how to truly love.

Lord Jesus, Your love is so great that You laid down Your life so that I could be in this eternal relationship with You.  Teach me to be honest with You and myself.  Guide me in all goodness so that I do not play games with You or others.  Help me grow the fruits of the Holy Spirit which You give so that I may live my life wholly dedicated to the hope You give me by grace.  Amen.

“And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?  For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘The one who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death’” (Matthew 15:3-4).

God is above all.  We should not do what we do according to our own understanding but live according to the word God speaks.  He means for us to live in the order He has created, doing what is pleasing in His sight.  We often make excuses and do things as we understand them rather than do what is pleasing in the Lord’s sight.  God has commanded us to honor and respect our parents and all those who are in authority.

Lord, I do make my excuses and do not do what is pleasing to You.  I do have attitudes and excuse them according to my understanding of things.  Guide me away from such sinful interpretations so that I may learn Your will and do what is pleasing in Your sight.  Help me not just to obey Your commandments, but to have them dwell in my heart and guide me in the way of all goodness.

Lord Jesus, I need the grace and mercy You give for the many times when I do not obey what is pleasing to You.  Help me to overcome my selfish attitude and the excuses I make so that I may obey Your commandments.  Guide me to humbly abide with You now and forever as You teach me how to live the life of faith which You have given me.  Lift me up and lead me for Your sake.  Amen.

“Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread” (Matthew 15:1-2).

We are not here to live out traditions, but to follow the Lord.  Traditions are fine when they help us live a life of devotion, but we do not live for the traditions.  It is like living for what Scripture says, rather than living for the One who wrote Scripture.  Our faith is not based upon our behavior, per se, but upon the relationship we have with the One who created us.  Take the next step and walk with the Lord.

Lord, sometimes my traditions do get in the way, and I am led by my need to feel good about myself.  Help me to live into the life You are offering and carefully do those things You give me to do.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I may humbly walk by faith, knowing that I am always in Your presence.  Teach me to live Your law for Your sake and not just to appease or even please You.

Heavenly Father, You have created an ordered world and through Your only Begotten Son, You have called us to live for You and to do so according to Your order of things.  Through the grace given through Your Son, lead us so that we live according to the law of love, loving You and others.  Teach me to be respectful of traditions, but not to live for them, but for You, who with the Son and the Holy Spirit are One God, now and forever.  In Your holiness, lead me to become holy as You are holy.  Amen.

“When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding region and brought to Him all who were sick; and they pleaded with Him that they might just touch the border of His cloak; and all who touched it were cured” (Matthew 14:34-39).

Many flock to Jesus because of what He can do.  Some come because of who He is.  Do you go to Jesus for what He can do or because of who He is?  He is our Lord and Savior, and He has called for us to be His friend.  Do not just stop with working for God but get to know Him.  He has come to establish an eternal relationship so that we may be in His life, and His life in us, now and forever.

Lord, I confess that I am often selfish and come to You when I want or need something.  Help me to include You in my daily life.  Lead me to know that You are always present and with me.  I do not want to just be one of the crowd that hangs around You with anticipation for what You can do for me, but one of Your disciples who learns to love as You love and does what is pleasing in the Father’s sight.  Guide me into that kind of life.

Lord Jesus, You have come to prepare us to dwell with You forever.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace to not just hang around You, but to walk with You leading me.  May I look to You as my friend.  You know what gets in the way.  Remove those obstacles that are in the way of You being in my life now and forever in such a way that I know and live in the truth that You are always with me.  Amen.

“When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.  And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!” (Matthew 14:32-33)

We see something miraculous and then, in ordinary time, go back to being unbelieving.  Such belief is conditional.  Our Lord is leading us to have unconditional faith, trusting in Him above all things.  He is the absolute Lord of all.  With Him, all things are possible.  Apart from Him, nothing is possible.  Do not try to lead yourself and seek to do what you will.  Look to the One who calls you and do as He directs.

Lord, I often get in the way.  My mind knows these things, but I go ahead anyway as if I were in charge.  Lead me, Lord!  Take my mind off what I can do so that I look to You for all things.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live according to the way You know I need to live.  Help me to understand humbly and simply that apart from You I can do nothing.  I cannot even command my body to keep living, for that too is in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, You have dealt with us, foolish generation after foolish generation, in Your great love and mercy.  Lift me up to be with You and stop depending upon myself alone.  Guide me in the goodness You have given me and teach me to see when I am not looking to You for guidance.  Of course You are God.  Remove the doubts and plant in me Your presence and purpose so that I may always follow You.  Amen.

“But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:30-31)

Peter became frightened.  How many times do we become frightened and sink back into the abyss of this world?  You and I fear.  You and I doubt.  But the Lord is Lord of all.  Be not unbelieving, but faithful.  Act upon what Jesus is directing you to do.  Do not be distracted by what you see around you but step out in faith according to the Lord’s leading.  It sounds simple, but we often get our fears in the way of our faith.

Lord, you told me to have no other gods before you.  I look inwardly and find that I depend upon myself and when I do not do what You are telling me to do, I fail.  Take me farther along the narrow path to learn to trust You above all things.  Let me not ask You for specific things, but simply learn how to trust You in all things.  You are the only One who can lead on the narrow way.  Teach me how to follow.

Lord Jesus, with great compassion You lift me up when I am sinking.  Teach me to keep my eyes upon You always.  Help me to not look to myself, but to always look to You, who alone is the author and finisher of my faith.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to live into the life to which You have called me.  Help me to see when I am looking only to myself instead of You so that I may walk wherever You lead me.  Amen.

,“Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus” (Matthew 14:28-29).

How quickly we can be excited when given the chance to do something.  Do we keep our eyes, hearts, minds, and souls upon Jesus?  It is not us doing it, but Him.  Without Jesus, you can do nothing.  With Him, all things are possible.  Never lose sight of the simple fact that Your faith completely depends upon Jesus.  He is the source of your being and the One through whom all things were made.  Look to and in Him mountains can be moved.

Like me, you may love the story of Peter walking on water.  Who would not love the thrill of that?  But Jesus is not interested in what to us are parlor tricks.  He will make of us children of the Heavenly Father.  It is not, will not be, nor never can be, about us.  It must always be about Him and what He is doing.  Be led by the Lord.  You are not His partner, but His follower.  Do not mix up these roles.

Lord Jesus, with great compassion You have lifted me up to walk with You.  Guide me in my daily life to seek nothing on my own but do all things through You.  Help me to get my selfish desires out of the way so that I can do whatever You ask me to do.  Take my mind away from distractions to the place where I look to You for direction.  Lead me in Your goodness and mercy to learn how to be obedient to Your commands.  Amen.

“When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:26-27).

How often does fear govern our thoughts and actions.  We see something and we cannot believe what we see.  Has not God made all things?  Is He not more than able to do what seems to us impossible?  Fear not and do not be limited by Your mind’s ability to comprehend, but be guided by the goodness of our Lord who will lead you through all of your circumstances.  Trust the Lord, for He is trustworthy.

Lord, sometimes You surprise me, but it should not amaze me.  Of course You are always with me, for You promised that You would be.  Let me not have anxiety over Your being with me, but live with assurance that You are with me.  Guide me in the truth so that I walk humbly with You My Lord and do what You give me to do each day.  Keep my heart calm and my assurance true, knowing that You are the God of all, since You and the Father are one.

Lord Jesus, I often think of You as someone distant who comes to me.  You have breathed Your Holy Spirit into me and so, of course, You are always with me.  Lead me in the assurance of salvation which You have given me in order that I may be bold in faith, kind toward others, and always willing to do what You give me to do.  Guide me through the whole of this day to be faithful to You, my Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.  And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:24-25).

No matter the location or circumstances, Jesus will find you.  This is the literal miracle here, but also the lesson that as we are tossed about by the storms of this life, nothing is able to hinder Jesus from coming to us.  Learn to trust that the God of all creation can do what He has promised.  Always be ready to have Jesus present in every circumstance.  Receive Him, knowing He has already received you.

Lord, I do know that I am distracted by the noise of this world.  When I need You most, I often do not feel that You are with me.  You are, for that is what You promised.  Give me eyes to see that You are always with me.  Lead me according to Your goodness to recognize through the storms of this life that Your purpose will be fulfilled as You promised.  Let not my heart be troubled; but grant that I always trust in You.

Lord Jesus, You come walking above all the storms of this life.  You will take me by the hand though the tempest be all around me, and You will keep me from being overwhelmed by any storm that is raging around me.  Grant that I may be comforted by the truth of Your presence today and every day.  Guide me to know that in You I may have confidence.  Lead me in the reliance You give to be faithful in this day You have given me.  Amen.