Ready to Sail

In real estate sales for over 30 years, Sam Siligato is also active in his church, teaches Sunday school, and hopes to turn his lifelong desire to write into a more active ministry as he approaches the new season of retirement. He has been published in the Amy Writing Awards, War Cry, and Upper Room devotionals. In addition, his book So You Want to Be a Landlord was written from experience in rental investment. He resides with his wife Sherry and has three grown, married daughters with six grandchildren.

Are YOU ready to sail?  And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4 ESV

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In Luke 5:4, Jesus gave Peter a command and a promise. He told Peter to launch out into the deep and let his nets down with the assurance of a great catch.  Even though Peter had toiled all night without catching any fish, he obeyed the Lord. And, sure to the promise of the Lord, the catch of fish was miraculous!
            Perhaps Jesus wants us to launch out into deeper places. But our launch depth may be different for each one of us. It depends on how easily we can give up the shore of our comfort zone. The greatness of our needs might determine our depth, or our expectations, goals, and ambitions from our launching ground.
In Peter’s case, the fish were to be found in deep, not shallow, water. The net of our needs fully fills in the deep things of God’s Word. We might love the beach, but sometimes we need to step off the shoreline into the water, deeper, where it might be challenging to navigate. There we will find the answers to the questions we often ask:

What is it that the Lord wants from me? 
What is God telling me to do?
What needs do I have that require God’s intervention?
What aspirations do I have that only God can fulfill?
Do I have the Peter's faith to launch out and obey
God’s command on His promises?

                We must be willing to launch out to the depths in the Lord required to attain victory and fulfill our calling. This requires our faithfulness and diligence to not give in to fear.  
            Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and He delivered me from all of my fears.”
            Do you trust Him to take you deeper for a promised catch? Get your sailing gear ready! Jesus is our life preserver as we are faithful to His call and the catch of fish that awaits us—the promised blessings God has in store for us.
 
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that when I cast my net into your Word, I will pull forth the catch necessary to fill my need. Forgive me when I linger too close to my comfort zones. Help me brave the deeper waters of Your Spirit to take hold of Your promises. Amen.