At Your Word

He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.  Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."  Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.  But because you say so [at Your word], I will let down the nets (Luke 5:3-5).

We all know the end of the story---the apostles caught so many fish that their boats began to sink---and they were afraid.

There is such a difference between doing things on our own initiative and doing them at the direction of the Lord---we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.  God intends success for us, so at His direction, even though we "know better" [that is, we've already tried that and it didn't work], we need to go ahead and do whatever He tells us.  And success does not always look like "success" to us; sometimes, it may even look like failure.  After all, Paul was beaten with rods how many times?  and arrested....and jailed....and eventually killed, as were Peter and most of the other apostles. 

When we pray, most often, it seems as if nothing happens--nada--but we keep on praying, believing that the Father hears us, and if He hears, He answers in ways we cannot now see.  But if the Spirit of God directs us to pray in a certain way or at a certain time, we know that what we pray is at His Word, His Command--and will produce the results we are seeking.

The Word of God is the seed that grows in fertile soil and produces 70 or 100-fold.  It cannot return void and unproductive.  We cannot manufacture the "Word" of God to us; we can only receive it and obey it, leaving the results to the Lord.