By My Spirit • Ps Jemima Varughese

Devotional

Day 1: Keep Your Eyes on Jesus to Do the Impossible

When Peter stepped out of the boat, he was able to walk on water as long as his focus remained on Jesus, but the moment he looked at the wind and waves, he began to sink. In the storms of life, the impossible becomes possible when you fix your gaze on Christ rather than the chaos around you. Distractions, fear, and the opinions of others will try to pull your attention away, but when you keep your eyes on Jesus, you can rise above circumstances and experience His supernatural peace and power. [03:39]

Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV)
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But 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 heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you’ve been focusing on the “wind and waves” instead of Jesus? How can you intentionally shift your attention to Him today, even in the midst of your storm?

Day 2: It’s Not by Might or Power, But by God’s Spirit

Human strength, resources, or cleverness cannot accomplish the impossible—only the Spirit of God can. No amount of wealth, influence, or personal ability enabled Peter to walk on water; it was the supernatural intervention of God. In your own life, stop striving in your own strength and yield to the Holy Spirit, trusting that He alone can bring breakthrough, miracles, and peace that surpasses understanding. [04:19]

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV)
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Reflection: Where have you been relying on your own strength or resources to solve a problem? What would it look like to surrender that situation to the Holy Spirit and trust Him to move?

Day 3: Stay Connected to Jesus—Apart from Him, You Can Do Nothing

Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, you cannot live a fruitful, victorious life apart from Jesus. All your efforts, relationships, and work will be empty without His presence and power flowing through you. Make it your priority to remain in Him, drawing daily strength, wisdom, and life from your relationship with Christ, knowing that true fruitfulness comes only from abiding in Him. [06:05]

John 15:5 (ESV)
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can deepen your connection to Jesus today—through prayer, worship, or time in His Word—so that you can bear lasting fruit?

Day 4: God’s Power Works in Your Weakness

When you feel weak, overwhelmed, or unable to face what’s ahead, God’s power is available to energize and strengthen you. He is not looking for your perfection or capacity, but for your willingness to call out to Him and depend on His Spirit. In your moments of need, don’t isolate yourself or pretend you’re fine—cry out to Jesus and invite others to pray with you, knowing that His strength is made perfect in your weakness. [11:37]

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Reflection: When was the last time you honestly admitted your weakness to God or to others? Who can you reach out to for prayer and support this week, trusting God’s power to meet you in your need?

Day 5: Walk by Faith, Not by Sight

The storms and challenges you face may seem overwhelming when viewed through natural eyes, but God calls you to walk by faith, trusting His promises and character above what you see or feel. Faith is built by knowing God’s Word and remembering His faithfulness, so let your confidence rest not in circumstances but in who He is. As you choose faith over fear, you’ll find strength to persevere and see God do the impossible in and through your life. [19:05]

2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV)
For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Reflection: What is one promise from God’s Word you need to hold onto today, even when your circumstances seem to contradict it? How can you remind yourself to walk by faith and not by sight?

Sermon Summary

When facing storms in life—whether they are personal, relational, financial, or spiritual—there is a supernatural peace and power available that does not come from our own strength, resources, or abilities. The story of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14 reminds us that the impossible becomes possible when our eyes are fixed on Jesus, not on the wind and waves around us. It’s not by our might, nor by our power, but by the Spirit of God that we overcome and see miracles unfold. Our backgrounds, qualifications, or even our failures do not disqualify us from experiencing God’s power; in fact, our weakness is often the very place where His strength is made perfect.

Too often, we try to control the outcome of our storms, dictating to God how He should move, or we isolate ourselves, refusing to cry out for help. But just as Peter called out to Jesus when he began to sink, we are invited to reach out in vulnerability—to God and to others—knowing that Jesus responds immediately with compassion and rescue. The storms of life will always try to demand our attention, but the key is to keep our focus on Jesus, not on the noise or the opinions of others, even when those voices come from people close to us.

Faith is not a fleeting feeling but a deep trust built on knowing God’s character and His Word. Testimonies of God’s faithfulness—both in Scripture and in our community—build our faith and remind us that what God has done for others, He can do for us. The Holy Spirit empowers us in our weakness, giving us the strength to do what we could never do on our own. Our breakthroughs are not just for us, but so that others may see and know that Jesus is Lord. Even in the midst of the storm, we are called to rise, to walk in our God-given destiny, and to be a light in our world, doing the impossible by His Spirit.

Key Takeaways

1. The Impossible Is Possible When Our Eyes Are on Jesus When Peter fixed his gaze on Jesus, he walked on water—defying natural laws and human limitations. The moment he shifted his focus to the wind and waves, he began to sink. Our circumstances may be overwhelming, but when we look to Jesus, we are empowered to do what we could never do on our own. The supernatural life is not about the absence of storms, but about where our attention is anchored in the midst of them. [03:39]
2. It’s Not by Might or Power, but by the Spirit Our resources, intelligence, or physical strength are not what bring breakthrough. The Hebrew words for “might” and “power” in Zechariah 4:6 point to external force and personal ability, but God’s Spirit is the true source of victory. When we stop striving in our own strength and yield to the Holy Spirit, we see God do what is humanly impossible—whether that’s healing, provision, or transformation. [04:19]
3. Vulnerability Invites Divine Intervention Peter didn’t try to save face or handle his crisis alone; he cried out for help, and Jesus immediately rescued him. There is no shame in admitting our need, whether to God or to trusted community. When we reach out, we invite others to stand with us in prayer and faith, and we open the door for God’s immediate and compassionate response. Isolation in crisis only deepens our struggle, but vulnerability brings breakthrough. [12:05]
4. Faith Is Built on Knowing God’s Character and His Word In times of crisis, our response reveals the depth of our faith. Those who know God’s character through His Word are not easily shaken by storms or offended by setbacks. Testimonies—both personal and communal—remind us of God’s faithfulness and build our confidence that He will act again. Faith is not blind optimism, but a conviction rooted in the unchanging nature of God. [19:43]
5. Your Breakthrough Is a Testimony for Others When Peter and Jesus returned to the boat, the focus was not on Peter’s feat, but on Jesus’ divinity. Our miracles and breakthroughs are not just for our benefit, but so that others may see and believe in the power and love of Jesus. The impossible things God does in and through us become a witness to our families, friends, and the world, pointing them to the reality of Christ. [21:58]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Opening Prayer and Blessing
[00:58] - Personal Story: Background and Family
[02:34] - Introducing Matthew 14: Jesus and the Storm
[03:39] - Walking on Water: The Power of Focus
[04:19] - Not by Might, Not by Power
[06:05] - Staying Connected to the Vine
[07:03] - Surrendering Control of the Miracle
[07:38] - Testimony: General Patton and the Power of Prayer
[09:52] - The Limits of Human Strength
[11:04] - God’s Power Energizes Us
[12:05] - The Importance of Crying Out for Help
[15:43] - The Roar of the Wind: Battling Distraction
[17:25] - Overcoming Negative Voices
[19:43] - Faith Built on God’s Character
[20:44] - Living a Life of the Impossible
[21:58] - Miracles Point to Jesus
[22:53] - Walking in Your Destiny
[23:32] - Doing the Impossible in the Storm
[24:41] - Prayer for Peace in the Storm
[29:07] - Prayer for Healing and Restoration
[31:20] - Breaking Family Curses and Receiving Restoration

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV) — 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Zechariah 4:6 (ESV) — Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Observation Questions

What did Peter do that allowed him to walk on water, and what caused him to start sinking? (Matthew 14:28-30)
According to Zechariah 4:6, what is the true source of victory and breakthrough in our lives?
In the sermon, what did Peter do when he began to sink, and how did Jesus respond? [12:05]
When Peter and Jesus got back into the boat, who did the disciples focus on and what did they say? (Matthew 14:32-33)

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus allowed Peter to walk on water in the middle of a storm, rather than waiting for calm conditions? What does this say about how God works in our lives? [23:32]
The sermon says, “It’s not by our might, nor by our power, but by the Spirit of God that we overcome and see miracles unfold.” How does this challenge the way people usually try to solve their problems? [04:19]
The preacher shared that Peter cried out for help instead of trying to save himself or hide his struggle. What does this teach about vulnerability and asking for help, both from God and from others? [12:05]
The sermon mentions that our breakthroughs are not just for us, but so others may see and know Jesus. How does this perspective change the way we view our own struggles and victories? [21:58]

Application Questions

Think about a current “storm” in your life (personal, relational, financial, or spiritual). What are the “winds and waves” that are demanding your attention and making it hard to focus on Jesus? What would it look like to shift your focus back to Him this week? [15:43]
Are there areas where you have been trying to control the outcome or tell God how He should solve your problem? What would it mean for you to surrender control and trust the Holy Spirit’s way instead? [07:03]
When was the last time you reached out for help—either to God or to someone in your church community—when you were struggling? If it’s hard for you to be vulnerable, what holds you back? How could you take a step toward vulnerability this week? [12:05]
The sermon talked about negative voices—even from people close to us—that can distract us from God’s calling. Are there any voices or opinions you need to tune out in order to keep your eyes on Jesus? How can you do that practically? [17:54]
Faith is built on knowing God’s character and His Word. What is one way you can grow in your knowledge of God this month—through reading Scripture, remembering testimonies, or another practice? [19:43]
The preacher said, “Your miracle and your breakthrough is not just for you, but it’s for your whole world to see that Jesus is Lord.” Is there a testimony from your life that you could share with someone this week to encourage their faith? [21:58]
The Holy Spirit empowers us in our weakness. Is there an area where you feel especially weak or inadequate right now? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in that area? [21:12]

Sermon Clips

It's not by your might. Whatever you're facing today, it's not by your might that you're going to get the impossible. Stop stressing at your bank account. Stop stressing at, well, if I had this many team or if I had this staff or if I had this family or I had, it's nothing to do with that to do the impossible because it's not by might. [00:09:34] (22 seconds) #ImpossibleNotByMight

When you feel weak, that's okay. Go to the Holy Spirit. When I feel like I can't do anything. When I feel overwhelmed. I don't agree. I felt the Holy Spirit really convict me, you know, when I say I'm stressed. And I feel the Holy Spirit say, well, you just prophesied your stress. So now all those demons of stress are going to come to you. Formant you. And you're going to wonder why everything is so hard to do. I'm tired. I can't do this. I'm overwhelmed. Well, if you feel weak, then go to this Holy Spirit. If you speak the language of the Holy Spirit, keep praying until it breaks. Until you feel yourself rise up again. [00:21:19] (39 seconds) #HolySpiritStrength

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