Daily Reading
Reflection
There are moments in life that show us that God is big, Grace is real, and Hope is not just a campaign bumper sticker. This text describes one of those moments. It represents each occasion in life where God says to us, "Push out in to the deep water" (Luke 5:4, The Message). Most of us prefer to stay in the shallows, where control is possible. Most of us believe that our way of catching fish will produce the best results. But God says, "Trust me." In this passage, Jesus asks Peter to take a risk. We know how he must have reacted, because we often react in the same way when asked by God to step out in faith—bewildered, shocked, perplexed. God's plans often seem fishy. But then we cast our nets, and find that abundance overflows. Perhaps Lent is the time to examine the areas in which you've chosen the predictable and manageable path instead of the path of trust. If so, push out into the deep water. And enjoy how God surprises you.
God of the deep waters, it's difficult to trust when we feel like we've already tried and tried, and failed repeatedly. Faith seems too risky. Teach my fearful heart to trust, opening my hands up a bit more every day, growing ever more confident in your abundance. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Daily Worship Resources
Daily Office Readings come from the Book of Common Prayer, a schedule of daily Bible reading that accords with the Church year. These readings are great worship resources for personal, family, or group use. Use it along with your City Church Worship Folder as a resource for readings, prayers, and hymns.
Printable Devotion