Lower the net...

 

Sometimes you need to try again, even if it didn’t work the last time. 

God doesn’t get mad when we ask.  Do we get mad at our kids when they ask more than once?  We might get frustrated, but we understand where they are coming from.  Sometimes we tell them no because the timing isn’t right.   Ice cream right before dinner would be a no.  However, after dinner could change the response to yes.

God is patient and longsuffering when it comes to His people.   I am so grateful for that.  I am sure I get on His nerves a bit asking the same request over and over.  I can be like that broken record.  But remember He loves our fellowship, even in asking. 

Sometimes the answer is not yet or wait.   So, we ask again.  Sometimes the answer changes as the circumstances or timing changes.

We can get frustrated because we did a task that didn’t produce fruit.  We then decide in our own intelligence it can’t work because we did it once and it failed. 

Read that sentence again. 

Remember Peter and the net?  He had been fishing all night and decided in his head there was no fish to be caught.  Jesus told him to let down the net one more time.  After pleading his case, Peter eventually gave in and lowered his net.  He was shocked to see the results.   There were so many fish that their nets began to break.

Timing…

How about Gideon and his multiple requests regarding the fleece?  He wanted an answer but also wanted to confirm God was speaking.  Asking more than once was not disbelief, just confirmation of the request.

Today, think about something you tried before for the Lord, and it didn’t work.  Maybe it was a no.  However maybe it was just a ‘not now’ response from God.

Please don’t give in to complacency thinking God is done with you.  He may have other plans in mind.  He might want you to pick up that fleece again and ask for His direction.

Let me leave you with one thought.

Lower the net again…

 

Luke 5:4-7 (NIV)

'Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. '

 

Judges 6:39 (NIV)

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.”

Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.