Time To Fish

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day:   Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.—1 Thessalonians 5:19-21

Memory verse: Romans 8:32 ►He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Today's reading: LEVITICUS 14 MATTHEW 26:51-75

Time To Fish?

What did Peter do after he denied Jesus-after Jesus had been crucified and rose from the dead? Confused and still ashamed, Peter went fishing-yes, he did-with 6 others who followed Jesus. I do not think they had their mind on fishing-they caught nothing until Jesus got involved and they obeyed Him(John 21). They obeyed Jesus and caught a lot of fish.

When we feel sorry for ourselves and feel like all is lost, this is where Jesus can truly work in us and restore us.

 But, we have to:

1) hear Jesus,

2) Be completely truthful with Christ

3) do what Jesus says.

There it is. How do we do it? We hear and obey. There is a lot of personal processing that goes into it. When we are in a tough spot or in intense mental anguish, it is hard to think about anything but the pain. That is when we have to get simple with the reasoning-scrape away all pretense-be real in front of God-be truthful-tell God what He knows already-and tell Him you will do whatever He wants-because you can't do anything else. Remember, you have fished all night...haven't caught a thing...and you have allowed nothing to matter but the pain.

No place but up-when we get to this point, it is time to listen to the Lord and cast our nets to the other side of the boat-and only you and your Heavenly Father know what that means in your life at that minute.

Whatever the lowest point may be for you, God does not want you to stay there. He wants you up and getting better and stronger for the next great thing or the next bottom...the hard times may not necessarily get any easier but each time we turn to God, He convinces us to turn to Him more quickly and that part gets easier and more natural and that's where the healing is.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I confess, I want  to run away and fish when pain strikes. Teach me to depend on you.

Loving Father and greatest friend,

In the name Jesus,

Amen