By Katy Mariotti

Be Bold

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.’ And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken.”
Luke 5:4-9 English Standard Version

I want to be honest with you and tell you that I am a little superstitious. You know the phrase “knock on wood”? I feel that if I say something like, “Well at least he didn’t break a leg,” I’m going to jinx something and he WILL break a leg (whoever he is!) I get this way with prayer also. I feel that if I ask for something specific in prayer, it will NOT happen just because I asked for it!

A year or so ago, a guest pastor at our church challenged us to ask God to surprise us (Thanks, Pastor Brauner!) With some trepidation, I made this prayer. The trepidation came from feeling that either it wouldn’t happen, or that instead of a happy surprise I might get a bad one… surprises are not always good!

Lilacs are my favorite flower. Shortly after we first moved into our house, my husband gifted me two lilac bushes. One we planted out front, and learned that deer really like to eat lilac bushes! It’s still alive, but it has never grown very tall and has never had flowers. The other lilac bush I planted out back, and it’s quite large now! But alas, in 10 years it too never had flowers. I did some research and discovered that it was probably due to the pH levels in the soil, and tried to mix the soil with other things to compensate, but to no avail.

A couple days after I prayed for God to surprise me, I went outside and was amazed to discover my lilac bush had flowers on it! I actually cried I was so overjoyed. Even though this was so meaningful to me, my superstitions crept back in and I thought “that was probably just a fluke. A one time thing.” Much to my amazement, like Simon with the fish, this year my lilac bush is full of flower buds!

Scripture says:

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”
1 John 5:14-15 ESV

Lately I have heard several people use the phrase “we are bold to pray” when making requests of God. I need this reminder. My prayer for you and for me today is to have confidence in the Lord and be bold to pray, because He promises to hear us. And we never know what surprises may arise!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado