"When (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch." "Master," Simon replied, "we've worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I'll let down the nets." Luke 5:4-5
Do you ever feel like Peter? I do. Feeling as though I have tried everything or have looked at all the angles or just plain feel tired and want to give up...and, through God's Word, Jesus calls me to "let down your nets". He says "my grace is sufficient and my power is perfected in weakness". He says to "store up treasures in Heaven and not worry about tomorrow". He calls me to "fix my eyes on what is unseen" and "walk by faith and not by sight".
And what a joy it is when I answer as Peter did that day on the shore: "But at Your Word, I'll let down the nets". For Peter, the results were pretty immediate. "When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink." vss. 6-7
God's answers in my life might not always be so immediate but they are always right on time...not my time, but God's time! "Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:11b) Philippians 2:13 reminds me that "it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to will and to act for His good purpose." I don't have to worry, fret, manipulate, strategize, or come up with a better plan. I can rest in God's perfect plan knowing that He will accomplish it for my good and for His glory. And I know, first-hand, what it looks like to be quiet in my spirit and watch the Lord work! AMAZINGLY GLORIOUS!
Do you ever feel like Peter? I do. Feeling as though I have tried everything or have looked at all the angles or just plain feel tired and want to give up...and, through God's Word, Jesus calls me to "let down your nets". He says "my grace is sufficient and my power is perfected in weakness". He says to "store up treasures in Heaven and not worry about tomorrow". He calls me to "fix my eyes on what is unseen" and "walk by faith and not by sight".
And what a joy it is when I answer as Peter did that day on the shore: "But at Your Word, I'll let down the nets". For Peter, the results were pretty immediate. "When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink." vss. 6-7
God's answers in my life might not always be so immediate but they are always right on time...not my time, but God's time! "Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it." (Isaiah 46:11b) Philippians 2:13 reminds me that "it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to will and to act for His good purpose." I don't have to worry, fret, manipulate, strategize, or come up with a better plan. I can rest in God's perfect plan knowing that He will accomplish it for my good and for His glory. And I know, first-hand, what it looks like to be quiet in my spirit and watch the Lord work! AMAZINGLY GLORIOUS!
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgements and untraceable His ways! ...For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:33,36
When Peter beheld Jesus at work, there was only one thing he could do. Luke 5:8 says that "he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, because I'm a sinful man, Lord!" He saw Jesus for who He was and Peter saw the sinfulness of his own heart and in that moment, he was humbled.
I love what Kimberly Wagner has to say about humility in her book Fierce Women: "In reality, humility has little to do with how I see myself but has everything to do with how I see God. Humility is the true response to a proper view of God. Humility opens the door for God's presence to be at home in our hearts (Isaiah 57:15) and His grace to move in to the situation at hand (James 4:6; I Peter 5:5). Jesus compared this condition to that of a little child. It's the recognition that we are helpless; completely dependent on Him. Humility doesn't grasp for, or demand control, but it gladly surrenders to the Master's control. When we maintain a steady gaze on God, childlike humility permeates our thoughts, attitudes, and actions."
So, here is what I am learning (and relearning!) in a nutshell: WALK obediently, even when you can't see more than the next step in front of you. WAIT on the Lord, confident in the reality that He will accomplish all His purposes for your life. WATCH Him work and WONDER at His majesty in such a way that you are humbled by His awesomeness and find your thoughts, attitudes, and actions changed more and more into His likeness!
Wanna let down your nets with me?
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