“When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, ‘Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.’” v.8

Have you ever doubted God?  Have you ever not been obedient to what God tells you to do because you have failed at it before?  Have you ever thought if you just worked harder . . . ?  I am sure these are all feeling that Simon Peter felt when Jesus tells him to go out into deeper water.

Once there, his crew couldn’t handle all the fish and others had to come help because there was so many.  Peter realized the what had happened.  He realized that Jesus was Lord of all things.  He realized that he was not worthy to be in Jesus’ presence.  He realized he was a sinner.  BUT, Jesus changes everything!

With Jesus, we can be forgiven.  With Jesus, we can have purpose.  With Jesus, we can see miracles.  With Jesus, we realize how much we need a Savior.  With Jesus, we find hope.  As I go through my day today I want to make sure I am with Jesus!  How about you?

“Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.”  v.35

What a lesson!  Jesus made time to commune with The Father.  He was always busy, but even He made time to get away and meet with God.  It’s easy to get caught up with ministry, work, school, and life for that matter, that we begin to neglect these times of solitude, individual worship, and prayer.  Perhaps you need to redesign your schedule to find time for earnest prayer.  It is vitally important to:

1. Seek the Lord before your busy schedule takes over your day.
2. Withdraw from the noise and demands so you can focus on God.
3. Have Jesus’ attitude toward regular communion with God.
4. Reflect on your priorities, compared to Jesus’ priorities.
5. Determine to pray more consistently, not just in times of crisis.

If prayer was important for Jesus, then it must be important for His followers.  PRAY – even if you have to get up early in the morning to do it.

My wife and I are reading a great book called “Secrets of the Secret Place”  it talks about meeting with God and how important it is.  Very good you can order it here!

“But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.” v. 24

The awesome thing about Jesus is when someone commits their life to him, He can take that mess and make it a masterpiece.  However, sometimes people that know you, don’t necessarily look at the person you are today, they remember the person you used to be.  It’s the old saying, “Your Reputation Precedes You.”  Even Jesus, who was God, was rejected by his home town.  People didn’t believe he could be the Messiah because of his social status.  But Jesus didn’t let that stop him.  He knew what His purpose was and He wasn’t going to let some unbelief keep him from fulfilling it.

I remember when I was 18 and God started moving in my life.  I knew that God was speaking to me and calling me to work specifically with teenagers, but I was scared to death.  One day as I was talking with my Youth Pastor, I don’t know what we were talking about, but I remember the words that he said.  At the time, God was doing so much in my life simply because it was so different than the way I used to be.  But the words were hard to hear.  Another staff person at the church said, “Dan doesn’t have the leadership to be in youth ministry.”  I was at a loss, maybe at the time, i was just wanting to prove him wrong.  However, the enemy has tried to use these words over and over in my head to keep me from fulfilling what God wants to do in my life and sadly, he will do the same to you.  But we can be encouraged by Jesus words when he says, “But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.”

Don’t let other people, who may not understand all that God is doing in you keep you from living and doing what God has called you to do.  Even when you feel beat up, pray and ask God to remind you of your calling, and to give you the strength you need to faithfully do the things that He has called you and prepared you to do.  That’s when He will get all the Glory and you will see Him move in mighty ways in you, and others.

“Jesus asked, ‘Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?’” v.48

What does it take for us to believe in Jesus?  Do we believe what He says, not just some of it, but all of it?  If Jesus says it will happen, it will happen.  The father in this story knew that Jesus could heal his son.  He walked several miles in hopes to bring Jesus to his son.  When Jesus tells him to go home, your son is healed, he goes home.  He took Jesus at his word and had faith in what he said.  I’m sure all of would say that if we talked to Jesus face to face like that and he told us to go home we would do it.  But would you really?  Are you sure you wouldn’t say something like, “I have walked 20 miles to talk to you, I want to make sure my son is well before you leave.”

Jesus words are powerful.  The reason this boy was healed is the fact that Jesus said so, but also that the father believed what Jesus said.  Jesus has said many things for that apply to us today.  However, our faithlessness limits what we see God do.  Today will you join with me in praying for stronger faith?  Lord will you help us have stronger faith, so we can expereince the fulness of your glory!