Poppy has been asking to go out on her new Christmas present since 6am. Yesterday she got Wheelies and loves them. We took her out and tried to help her get used to them.

Our conversation this morning made me laugh.. and then it’s made me think:

Poppy: Ok, when I go on my wheelies everyone can come but not Nannie. Cz Nannie tells me how to do it and so I don’t like that.

Me: Nannie is who knows how to do it. She got them for you and knows better than anyone how they should be done so we need to listen and learn to do it the best!

Poppy: I only want everyone to come and sit silent then clap at the end.

Me: Pop, that’s not how we learn

Poppy: Eurgh ok, everyone can clap whenever they like.

She’s a lotta fun! It made me laugh and then has stayed with me on this lazy Boxing Day morning. How often do we want to not have to learn or listen but just get a lot of clapping! Yet that’s not how we learn.

I was then listening to my Bible reading as I got dressed and felt like God was sharing more with me…

In Luke 5, Simon (Peter) is out in his boat while Jesus talks to the crowd. When the crowds leave he tells Peter to sail out to deep water and put his net out. Peter answers that they’ve been out all night and not caught anything.

This would have been the thing Peter knew most about – FISH. His way of providing for his family, the trade he’s grown in, the thing he was knowledgeable about and knew how to do well..and knew when it wasn’t the time to catch!

If that were me I’d have probably left it there. ‘Thanks Jesus but I’ve already tried and we’ve not caught anything.. I’m ready for bed.’

We read that for Peter though, this isn’t the end of his answer. He says back to Jesus:

“But because YOU say so, I will let down the nets”

I love this response.. but before I jump to it. Firstly as I listened this morning I thought it was interesting that if Peter was thinking he’d do what Jesus asked, then it’s funny that he had to add the ‘we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing’. A bit like Poppy wanting to just say she already knows what she’s doing, she can work it out herself – just give me a clap as I go!

How often is that my response when I hear Jesus asking me to do something. Whether clearly or just in that deeper part of me, where I know the right thing to do. To help that person, answer with kindness, turn off a programme I’m watching etc. Things that are Jesus saying to me- put your net out again. Yet my response is like Peter’s initial “I’ve been out all night” or Poppy’s “Just sit silent and clap, I’ve got this”.

The kindness of Jesus is that even when we think we know what we are doing. Or when we say ‘I have already tried and I’m tired’. If our answer goes on to say “BUT because YOU have said so, I’ll do it” then we see what Peter sees:

“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The result of this miracle is Peter leaving everything to follow Jesus. He’d already seen Jesus perform miracles before this day. Yet this one does something, Jesus steps into the world Peter knows and says, I am able to do anything. It’s incredible that it says they left everything. The amount of fish they caught would have been worth so much money. Yet who needs to take it, when your with the man who made it happen. You can trust him and stick with him as now you see He is your provider, He is the source of all you need – as long as you follow.

I pray that I can learn to follow Him. To do what He asks, throw my net out, even if I’ve already tried or am too tired! I want the fullness of what it leads to. The joy, peace and blessings that come in trusting Him.

Pray for us too as we head out now to help Poppy on her wheelies! That she will listen to Nannie, as once she’s got it- she will fly! I pray for you too, that as you take time to listen to Jesus voice and follow His instruction- you will fly.