One Month to Live. That is the title of a book my friend, Amy, over at Just Keep Praying called today to tell me she had purchased because she fell “hook, line, and sinker” for the marketing of the endcap. So, like any good friend who wants to be supportive and help her friend not feel too bad, I went straight to the bookstore at the first opportunity and purchased the book for myself. What else could I do? Okay, back to the book….

Are you suffering from “someday” syndrome – always waiting for someday when your schedule calms down, your finances improve, or your kids grow up so you can begin to live the life you’ve always dreamed of?

Consider how your perspective would change if you found out you had just thirty days to live. After the initial shock, you’d probably resolve to squeeze all you could from the days that remain. You’d say what you really think. You’d love with abandon. You’d focus on whatever you care about most. In short, you’d stop wasting precious time, and in whatever time you had left, you’d throw yourself into becoming the person God intended you to be. (taken from the inside flap of One Month to Live)

I haven’t even begun to read the book yet, and I already feel convicted! You see, I have been wasting time. I’m not doing everything I can to become the person God intends me to be. I know this.

Over the past couple of weeks, God has given me the passage Luke 5:1-11 when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him.

1One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

I have mentioned before that I don’t feel I am following through on everything God has called me to do, re: Mary Kay. I didn’t choose it. I would not have chosen it. But God chose it for me. Why, I do not yet know. The second time God gave me this passage in less than a week, I knew He was trying to tell me something. I stopped and asked Him, “What is it, God? What do you want me to know?” He spoke to my heart so clearly. He said, “My child, if you will cast your net as I have asked, I will fill your net and the nets of all who join you to the point of breakage. Trust me.”

Notice Simon’s response to Jesus’ instruction to cast the net again. 5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Because You say so, I will. Obedience. Pure and simple.

Simon Peter was a fisherman. They had been out all night and had caught nothing. But because Jesus told him to try again, he did. That was the only reason he had to do so. And it was the only reason he needed.

I need to take a lesson from Simon Peter. I have been given an instruction. I need to cast my net again. Why? Because Jesus said so, and that should be all the reason I need.

What do you need to do?

Blessings,

If you would like to know more about this book and a 30-day challenge to go along with it, go to their website One Month to Live.