05/09/2025
Does God reveal Himself to us each day? If we are anticipating a revelation of God, we are more than likely going to receive it. Looking for God implies that He is central to our lives, and has replaced self as the driving force in them. When we look inward for the answer to our problems, we get a solution that is limited by our own intellect and experience, but when we turn to God the possibilities are endless.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Proverbs 29:18 KJV
So many people let pride dictate their approach to problems and say... "I have this! I don't need God to help me." In fact, God's solution will be perfect and without flaw. Sure, you can solve many puzzles in your life, but wouldn't it be better if you didn't have to try several pieces before finding a perfect fit... or not having to force them together? Learning to look to our Heavenly Father before beginning any task is not only the right thing to do, but will reduce the stress we feel in our lives as well.
When I was young I loved to go fishing with my father; he was an expert fisherman and I always wanted to impress him by being just as good as he was. One weekend we went trout fishing in the George Washington National Forest. I had never been trout fishing before, so in the weeks leading up to our trip I read everything I could get my hands on about how to wade a trout stream and catch trout.
Finally, the morning of the fishing trip came. We drove to a secluded stretch of river that was no wider than a two lane road, crystal clear, and flowing cold and shallow. I put on my hip waders and moved to the edge of the water. My dad joined me and asked, "Do you want me to show you how to go about this?" Of course I told him "no"... I had read all there was on the subject, and I could do this all on my own. My father said "good; why don't you wade in and fish down to the first bridge and wait there for me." I waded into the beautiful rock filled river and began to fish every eddy and undercut. I was meticulous in my efforts and employed every trick and skill I had read about. I fished so thoroughly that I was sure there wouldn't be a single trout left for my dad.
After some time I arrived at the first bridge and walked up on the bank. I could see my father rounding the bend upstream and in a moment, he was standing beside me. Dad asked me how many I had caught... to which I responded... "I don't think there are any trout in this river. I fished every ripple, eddy, and rock, but there was nothing there!" I was really disappointed that he had brought me to a place that didn't have a single trout in it. He just smiled at me, and when I had vented long enough, he opened the top of his creel and showed me several beautiful rainbow trout he had caught. If nothing else, I should have traumatized every trout in that stretch of the river... but there they were. I fell quiet, and after a painful pause he asked "are you ready to learn how to catch trout now?" Sheepishly I mumbled "yes sir", and he began to teach.
Our Heavenly Father will let us attempt to solve problems just like my earthly father let me try to catch trout. When at last, when we are frustrated or the solution comes out half baked, He will gently ask "are you ready to learn now?" Looking to God shouldn't be our last resort... it should be our first option.
When I finally learned that being with my father wasn't about competition or proving myself, our relationship turned into a close and loving one. God wants us to have that same relationship with Him... He wants to enjoy being with us and wants us to cherish every minute of our time with Him.
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Proverbs 8:17 KJV
Let’s open our eyes and our hearts to God, and let Him lovingly reveal Himself to us. If we do this, then we will find that the love is in the lessons He teaches, and not in our having proven ourselves capable. I have always found it remarkable that God said that He was pleased with Jesus before He had even started answering His calling in earnest. When is our Father please with us? Do we think we must earn His love, or will we allow Him to teach us and open the heavens to us… even before we see His Spirit?
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son,[b] with whom I am well pleased.””
Matthew 3:13-17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the patience you have in me. Thank you for not losing your temper with me when I am belligerent or don't know how to express my love and faith in you as I should. Holy Father, there is nothing I want more than your approval and love; help me to trust enough in you that I will wait on you to demonstrate your pleasure and care for me. Jesus, you made fishers of men out of Simon Peter and Andrew... please do the same for me Lord. Hear me asking for your guidance, and then not only show me the solution I need but also appreciate how difficult it was for me to let go of my own self-assuredness. Can you see that releasing my grasp and letting go of my self-confidence takes almost all the love and faith I have? My headstrong nature is the greatest challenge to my relationship with you Father, help me thus to overcome my pride before it does me great harm... not after I have reached the end of my rope, after I have fished to the first bridge, or all night, and not caught a single fish. Jesus, don’t let me fail in my faith because of my desire to show our Father that I am self-sufficient. Don’t let me find that what should have been a spiritual lesson has become a divine rescue. Holy, Holy, Holy are you Abba, for you are my God and will raise me up to be a fisher of men just as Jesus is, and as all His disciples have become. Holy are you who has loved me, and been pleased in me, even before I learned to fish. You are merciful and full of grace Lord God and pour out your love upon me as you teach me your ways. Fill my creel with the bounty of your waters Lord, and then accept what you have given me as my offering unto you. Praised be your name Abba, and may all glory and honor be yours forever and ever.
Amen, Amen, Amen!!
“And when he [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.””
Luke 5:4-8 ESV
“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19 ESV
Rich Forbes