Welcome to another week of our Everyday Jesus link-up. Be sure to link-up below this post, comment on your neighbor’s blog and share with your friends… Because Jesus is everywhere, every day!
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I love water.
Specifically, bodies of water. Maybe it is because living in Kansas I didn’t grow up around much water. Or my affinity for exploring the life teeming beneath the surface. Or perhaps I just really like eating fish.
Either way, it is on my bucket list that sometime in the next 20-70 years we shall live by a body of water and own a small boat. (Oh. And ice fishing. Never been– need to go.)
When I was a teenager, I had the opportunity to live in work in Minnesota for two summers. The Land of 10,000 Lakes? Uh, yes please.
I worked on a hog farm (that’s a story for another time) and lived with my Uncle Billy and Aunt Cindy. Uncle Billy was a professional fun-haver. Although our hog farm work schedule was quite demanding for my teenage self, Billy always made sure to fill our off hours with adventures.
He had lots of cool toys. My favorite one was his big ol’ fancy bass boat.
In the summers, we would sometimes get off “early” around 1 or 2 in the afternoon (our work day started between 5-6am.) We would hurry home, grab a pop, jump in the White bronco and head to the lake.
Many fond memories were made that summer. Specifically when I outfished all of the men at work with the only catch of the day… a 47 inch, 9 pound Northern Pike. Not that am bragging or anything. (Again, a story for another time.)
We lived for the lake. But sometimes, our grand plans didn’t turn out so well.
See, conditions had to work in our favor. And by conditions, I mean it couldn’t be a million degrees (in July in the Midwest? Yeah, right.) We also couldn’t take the boat out when the wind was blowing. Not only was battling nausea in a boat as fun as it sounds, but the fish were never biting.
A few weeks ago, this analogy popped into my head during my quiet time.
My Spirit was really twitchy. I was seeking God’s peace, but at that particular moment, it was eluding me.
Suddenly, heard a whisper:
“Sharita… Breathe and rest in my peace. If the waters of your heart are choppy, you are scaring away My fish. You can’t effectively do My work if you aren’t standing steadfast in My Peace. My waters are always calm– cling to that promise and will continue to make you fishers of men and women alike.”
Say what, Lord? Um, ok then. Wow.
What a revelation. The conditions this world don’t have to be ideal… but God can make the conditions of our heart perfect for casting His line and dipping in our net of faith.
If I am all wrapped up in myself, worried, anxious, exhausted, then I am scaring away the fish. We can’t be fishers of men and women if the waters of our heart are choppy.
Since that time, I have been paying special attention to the waters of my heart. I most certainly still have days when the wind comes up and the seas are a bit rough. But like those on the boat with Jesus, all I need to do is ask Him to calm my stormy heart. We can take His hand and walk on the peaceful waters.
So friends– where in your life are you dealing with choppy waters? What declaration do you need to present to Christ today to calm your heart? Join the conversation and leave a comment.
Take heart, my fellow fishing friend… All we have to do is ask Our Lord to calm our choppy, windy hearts… and before we know it, we will be fishing in calm waters once again.
Casting for Christ,
“Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions, but simply dropped their nets and followed.” ~Matthew 4:19 MSG
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