Luke 5: 1-11
The Lord promises to empower us and equip us for His work. And we see this so evident in His Word. When Jesus called Peter to follow Him, the Lord demonstrated His power as Peter and his companions let down their nets to catch fish. The night before they had worked hard and with their own efforts there was no catch, they were tired and discouraged,yet Jesus was telling them to try again. No sooner, did they obey the voice of the Lord, and let down their nets, they witnessed the nets filling up and were unable to contain the abundance. So it is with those who are empowered with His Holy Spirit-
“Not by might and not by power says the Lord, but by my Holy Spirit.” Zechariah 4:6
Several weeks ago I was reflecting on the time when I witnessed the Holy Spirit working in my life, and became discouraged, despondent because presently all my efforts end in disappointment and futility. I was greatly discouraged wondering as His vessel, whether or not I was placed on a shelf, useless and without purpose. Then as I was awakening from my sleep, I saw the cross and again I knew that God had made it simple. It is focusing on Christ and His work and not my own is where I am to be. As one zeros in on the cross hairs of a monocular scope- single minded, such is the way that the Lord wants me to stay centered on Him and not myself. I suddenly was overcome with confidence and left my hotel room along with the news broadcast my husband was watching. I need that time early in the morning with my Lord and crave His communion like the manna that falls down from heaven. I am ravenous for His Word and nothing can take its place. So I left with Bible in hand seeking solitary time with Him while at the same time having my breakfast.
The hotel’s restaurant was empty when I entered and I was happy for the quiteness. Then there appeared a woman who sat adjacent from me, who was also alone. I read my devotional and hardly touched my meal, when I decided to go back to my room and join my husband, knowing that his time with the news was probably over. When suddenly, my waitress pointed out that the woman sitting adjacent to me had a similar bible as my own. We immediately began to compare bibles and explained to each other their themes. From there, we began to share our faith and then the Holy Spirit took over. She began to tell me how she needed a rest from the spiritual warfare she was involved pertaining to the mental illness of a friend. The Holy Spirit began to give me wisdom in every part of our conversation and I could relate to her trial in every way because I had encountered everything she shared. It was as though the Lord swept me up and filled me with His wisdom and confidence to relate to this Christian woman who was seeking God’s wisdom for her trial (Acts 8: 26-40). As I spoke, the Lord was filling my mouth with His Word. I realized the trials I experienced were exactly what the Lord had planned, and I found myself comforting this woman with my own testimony and God’s Word ( 2 Corinthians 1:4). We both were soaring in God’s presence and strengthen by the knowledge He gave as we spoke through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. She took a picture of me and I took a picture of her to remember the anointed time God had so graciously given with our meeting. We both looked at the food on our table and realized that very little was eaten, yet we were full and no longer hungry. Before we departed she told me that she had not intended to come to that particular hotel, but somehow was guided there.
There was no doubt that God had brought us together and even the waitress who was responsible for the meeting affirmed it by saying that indeed the Lord was there. I left my new friend in Christ, soaring, assured that the Lord had not placed me on a shelf, but just like with so many of His children, He was teaching me that He does the calling, creates the circumstance and brings in an abundance of fruit. All I need to do is be available with His provision and let go of my doubts and fear and follow Him. All I need to do is make myself available and accessible to His timing and to His ways, and then He is able to say the Word and perform the miracle that brings about His purpose and healing. How precious are the ways of the Lord. And those who find it cease from their own labor and enter His rest.
Now I am more cognizant of the Lord’s voice and the circumstances He alone creates to bring glory to Himself. I have in the past tried to create my own circumstance and agenda, now I follow His. Now I know how to enter the rest He provides, knowing that He completes everything He begins, regardless of how I might view it or how someone might respond. My word and efforts may end in futility but His accomplishes the very thing He has predestined and purposed. And all who witness His presence also reap the fruit of His labor just like the disciples who went with Peter on that boat, and just like the thousands who ate of the bread and fish offered by a little boy (John 6:9) The Lord only asks from us what He has already given. When we yield to Him in faith, He multiplies it and it becomes not only a blessing for ourselves but for many others.
Doula Faith
