Luke 5:1-7 ERV
As Jesus stood beside Lake Galilee, a crowd of people pushed to get closer to him and to hear the teachings of God.
[2] Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen were washing their nets.
[3] Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon. He asked Simon to push off a little from the shore. Then he sat down in the boat and taught the people on the shore.
[4] When Jesus finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will put your nets into the water, you will catch some fish.”
[5] Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish and caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water, so I will.”
[6] The fishermen put their nets into the water. Their nets were filled with so many fish that they began to break.
[7] They called to their friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came, and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking.

Peter’s famous response to the master’s instruction says, “at thy word I will let down the net.” The Christian life is a constant walk of faith, not second-guessing ourselves and analysing every word of instruction but firmly taking hold of the word and applying it to our situations.
How many times has the Lord given us instructions we thought were silly, unusual, and too mundane to make a difference? We react in superior ways in certain quarters and with most people. Imagine how Peter must have felt to have this non-fisherman tell him-the seasoned fisherman, the expert fisherman, the professional, how to do his job, a job he had been doing for a long time.
We pray, fast, and wait for an answer, a breakthrough, and a miracle but often when the answer comes, we disobey the instruction because we think less of it either if it didn’t match our expectations or meet what we think was our need.
Sometimes, even if our head knowledge says no to the instruction before us, we take God at His Word and Promises.
Naaman was so desperate to be healed from leprosy yet when Prophet Elisha told him what to do in 2 Kings 5, he got angry and questioned the authenticity of the God of Israel.
We ask the Lord to touch us, reveal Himself to us, and use us but when He tells us what He requires from us, the sacrifices it would entail, rather than say “at thy word Lord,” we shy away from the instruction.
Like Peter, so many of us think we know what we want and how to get it without considering that the Lord may have a better, simpler, and more productive way of helping us achieve that goal.
We have toiled all night—sound like many of us who have several jobs but without the desired fruit. All labour is fruitless where the blessing of God is not, especially in ministry. It is the presence and influence of Christ, in a congregation, ministry, home, family, business, and personal life that causes the increase and establish growth: without Him, whatever effort we put in or abilities we have maybe, an all-night of fruitless labour.
Jesus told Simon Peter to let down his nets, but Peter’s response was partial obedience- at thy word I will let down my net. We must remember that the Lord provides our needs before they arise- the word had gone out and will not return to the Master empty according to Isaiah 55:11, the fish heard the instructions to enter the “nets” but saw one net which they all swarm in thereby breaking the net.
The Lord may not be a professional in your field, but He is still the authority on all things and the Word of God, able to control creation at command and knows all things. He knows where all the best things you need are. Listen to Him.
The Lord will never give us anything we can’t carry, manage or handle- when He tells us to let down our nets, let’s be sure to say “at thy word Lord, I will let down my nets” so, you are not only prepared but able to carry that blessing, favour, promotion, and harvest.
At thy word Lord.
Shalom