When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” — Luke 5:4 (NIV)
Many people believe that everything God has made available to the new creation should simply arrive on a silver platter. You might sit at home without fasting, praying, or even studying the Word of God, yet expect miracles to manifest just because God promised them. However, spiritual growth and breakthroughs do not work that way. God has positioned us with access to all things, but access requires action. It means these blessings are available to anyone who desires them, provided they go to where those blessings are kept.
The story of Peter illustrates this principle beautifully. After Peter spent the entire night catching nothing, Jesus arrived and told him to launch into the deep. As soon as Peter followed those instructions, he caught a massive haul of fish (Study Luke 5:1–6). We must ask ourselves what we can learn from this passage of the Bible. Jesus could have commanded the fish to leap into the boat by the thousands, but He chose not to do that.
Instead, Jesus needed Peter to believe His Word and act upon that belief. He required Peter to reach out for the promise rather than simply handing it to him on a platter. Once Peter obeyed the instructions of Jesus, he witnessed a miracle that is now told throughout the world. People often forget that the testimony exists only because Peter chose to reach out. The same principle applies to believers who desire for their problems to vanish without engaging in prayer or fasting.
While God has made many promises to us as His children, He does not always place them directly in our hands. Instead, He keeps them within our reach. He expects us to stretch out our hands and seize what He has provided. Without this requirement, many believers would never feel the need to pray, fast, or study the Word of God. You may see some who remain idle or lazy, unwilling to “work the Word” in their lives.
If you find yourself in this position, you will struggle to lay hold of the promises made to you. Therefore, I encourage you today to make the necessary effort to reach out for the promises of God. Do not settle for spiritual inactivity while expecting supernatural results. When you choose to reach out and act on His Word, your testimonies will surely abound.
Today’s Rhema
The promises of God for you are within your reach, so reach out for them!
Confession for the Day
I declare that everything making me lazy or keeping me away from spiritual activity is cut off and destroyed in the name of Jesus. I declare that I am fully ready to take all that God has kept within my reach. Nothing will stop me from possessing my inheritance in the name of Jesus. Amen!
