The Fish That Didn't Get Away

 

And when He had finished speaking,

    He said to Simon,

"Put out into the deep

               and let down your nets

               for a catch."

And Simon answered,

"Master, we toiled all night

             and took nothing!

But at Your word,

   I will let down the nets.

And when they had done this,

they enclosed a large number of fish,

        and their nets were breaking.

                     Luke 5. 4-6

(A significant difference is manifested

   between what we do on our own

   and what we do guided by God

           and fueled by His strength.

God brings His profound increase

   to our obedience to Him,

far deeper in the water

              than we can see,

   even beyond our imagination.

In what am I willing to respond

        to God's leading today

    even before we see

               a plausible outcome?

But at His word --

  means not that we give God

            a second chance to act,

but God gives us

   another opportunity to trust Him.

The astonishing part is

 not a record number of fish,

not a matter of so-called "success,"

       but trusting Him.

God has a lot bigger fish

           in this situation we're in.

And He starts with our hearts.)

O LORD,

Please help us

   to be willing to follow You

   into this day,

whether resulting in a net full of fish

            or none at all.

You are over everything.

We can trust You

  even in what we cannot see.

Please strengthen us

  to faithfully row with You,

        put out into the deep,

and cast our nets daily

   in so many dimensions.

Guide us into Your day for us.

Guide us to You.