We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall. Proverbs 16:33
July is the time people pause to review and take stock of their lives. For some, this is a grueling exercise especially when it seems they are underachieving. I am not making light of your present situation -we’ve all been or are going through something. Whatever the case for you today, I want you to pay close attention to what God is saying.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. Psalm 32:8; 25:12; 37:23
I have handled and thrown a few dices and if you have, you will know that a dice is multi-faced. It is a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; often used in gambling to generate random numbers. The danger of the dice game is that the outcome is unpredictable – it’s a game of chance and the probability of winning is low. How long will one keep trying and hoping the numbers will come up high? Why drown in the pool of uncertainty when you have security and surety in God?
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. Many plans occupy the mind of a man, but the LORD’s purposes will prevail. Proverbs 16:9; 19:21
I don’t know about you but I am tired of leaving a ‘random’ life. I want the rest of my life to run with precision and purpose with less or no chaos. If you are thinking along the same lines then you need God! He can bring order to your chaos, clarity in your dilemma, and change to your conventional system.
One morning, Jesus joined his disciples just as they were about to wrap up their shift. These are men who would be called, empowered and equipped to be ‘’fishers of men’’ but pending their collision with destiny, they were doing what they knew best: fishing-fish. Imagine working a 12-hour night shift and not getting paid for it? They forfeited their beds, sleep, comfort, other social invitations and activities for work, and yet had no results to show for it. Ever been there?
“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” Jeremiah 31:25
With Jesus in the scene, their lives were about to be transformed. They are about to be healers, miracle workers, and disciples of Jesus, who was famous for his campaigns all over the cities he visited. Little did they know their statuses were about to change. The next time they’d row their boats, it’d be anointed; when they speak, signs and wonders would follow and if they had to fish, there would be evidence!
When Jesus finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will put your nets into the water, you will catch some fish.” Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish and caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water, so I will.” The fishermen put their nets into the water. Their nets were filled with so many fish that they began to break. They called to their friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came, and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking. Luke 5:4-7
From the account, we can see the disciples had been casting their nets – throwing dices without tangible results – they caught nothing! How did it all change for them? Jesus gave them an instruction which they heeded. Friend, it does make a difference when you have God’s backing about a thing.
Everything you read about in scripture can happen for you. Just let God speak to you and when he does, be sure to do his bidding. Within a short period of time, the people who toiled all night possibly for a half-load of fish, had a net-breaking, boat-sinking catch. Not one but two full boat-loads. That’s double for their trouble. Won’t he do it for you?
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
I Heard a Word 