Today’s Ponderings from Luke 5:1-11

“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless, at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.”

As I “chewed on” this scripture, that is, as I meditated on these verses, I realized that doubt was active in Simon’s heart. When Jesus had commanded Simon to “launch out into the deep and let down their nets for a catch,” Simon replied, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing…” Simon based his reply on the evidence that was seen. His logic and reasoning were based on the fact that they had fished all night and caught nothing; zilch, nada…. NOTHING. I imagine this must have been discouraging and disheartening for this group of men to have been fishing all night…. only to catch nothing. This was their livelihood. This was their bread and butter. Talk about disappointment. However, Simon then subjects himself under Jesus, and submits His soul ( his mind, will & emotions) to the Word of God; to what Jesus had just spoken. Simon continues to say, “nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (emphasis mine) At this point, Simon chooses by an act of His will, to obey Jesus. In other words, Simon chose to go against the facts, to go against his feelings of doubt & unbelief (possible discouragement to) and to go against the reality of what was. Instead, Simon obeyed the word of God. And did you notice the results?! "And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink." They had caught so much fish, that the net was breaking and the boat began to sink! When Simon obeyed the personal word of the Lord, at that moment, he released his faith. Upon the personal word from Jesus, he locked his faith with that word. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” He placed his hope in what wasn’t seen. But what was his hope? The Word of God…. hope was what Jesus said to him. Do you know God's heart here? Jesus cared about their prosperity. He didn't just give them enough; He gave them according to His riches. Jesus cared about their disappointments; He pursued them with a divine appointment. Jesus cared about their broken hearts and met them in their unbelief. Jesus was moved with compassion.

So often we try to reason against what the word says because of our feelings, facts and present realities. But I want to encourage you to today. Place your hope in what the Scripture declares, and what is not presently seen, and as an act of your will, choose to obey it. Choose to believe that what God's word says to you, is correct. Then decide to receive it. The rest is God's part.

If you need healing; emotional, mental or even spiritual, begin meditating in healing scriptures. Fill your heart with what Jesus says about healing even against your present realities and feelings. Immerse yourself in the truth. The fact may be you are unwell, but the truth of God’s word supersedes the facts!! Jesus cares about your pain. Jesus cares about your broken heart. Jesus cares about your body. Jesus cares. Now I realize that this story was instant.... as was my healing from bulimia, anorexia and bipolar depression. But, I have had to since then, battle other various pains, injuries and sickness, ALL to which God has been faithful. And most were not instant. In fact, many were slow progressive healings where I had to stand, and continue to stand on the truth that He spoke to me concerning my healing. Now don't miss what I am saying. I rested in Him to hear what He had to say about my situation then locked my faith with His word to me. I didn't pick and choose which scripture I wanted; I waited for Him to give me his word then I had to press into God and believe for my breakthrough against what I was seeing and feeling in my body.

Don't give up! Keep standing. Keep believing. And keep praying for your breakthrough!

Deuteronomy 30:14-16, 19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land which you go to possess.... 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;

Be encouraged today, Jesus is faithful to His word. Find out what He is personally saying to you today and choose life. Put the word in your mouth and your heart. Remember, He IS;

Jehovah Rophe: My Healer

“For I am the Lord who heals you" (Exodus 15:26)

APPLICATION:

Sit in the Presence of God. Be still, and posture yourself before Him. Quiet your mind, and get rid of any distractions: Shut the phone off, lock your door, write out any ‘to do’ lists so you won’t forget to do them later.

Know that we don't go down the list of these scriptures and try to manufacture a response from God. Instead, we ask the Lord to speak His word to our hearts that is unique and personal from God to us. God wants to talk to you. He wants and has equipped you to hear and know Him. Anytime we read of Jesus and His disciples healing others, it was personal and unique to their situation. Therefore, we too must sit at the feet of our Lord Jesus and ask Him how He chooses to heal us, what word is He speaking to us, then we receive it and obey. It is a personal relationship of asking and receiving.

Ask Him to speak to you. “Lord, what do You say about my situation?” Then read the scriptures, then reread them. Only this time, slow down and continually ask the Lord to speak and make it clear to you. If a scripture bears witness with you, in other words, if the scripture leaps off the pages, or you may sense that you have the faith to believe, then God has spoken!! That is God’s personal promise to you! Now, your part is to stand on that word, confess it, obey it and believe God for it (release your faith). I encourage you, find others to release faith with and share with them what you believe God has spoken for your situation and let them help you stand in faith!

Here are a few scriptures to get you started:

Proverbs 4:20-23 “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of spring the issues of life.”

Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Psalm 27:14 " Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord."

Isaiah 40:29,31 "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength...But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Proverbs 16:24 "Pleasant words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."

Psalm 103:2-5 "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles."

Psalm 30:2 "O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me."

Psalm 91:10 "No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling."