God speaks.

Today's devotion was indeed a revelation from God; and I think some of you out there really need to read it. Hope it ministers to you as it did to me.

[from "Experiencing God Day-by-Day" by Henry and Richard Blackaby]

September 9
::Returning to Your Failure::

Luke 5:5 - But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."

No one knows how to help you in your times of failure as Jesus does! He will not overlook your shortcoming or simply encourage you to do better the next time. He will give you victory in the midst of your failure.
Peter had fished all night without success. His was not just a meager catch; he caught nothing, even though he was a skilled fisherman. Jesus could have said, "Peter, don't worry about your empty net. You'll soon be in a different business anyway." Instead, Jesus told him to launch out into the deep and to cast out his nets for a catch. How humbling it must have been for Peter! Here was a carpenter telling this outspoken fisherman how to fish!
Jesus often gets your undivided attention when you fail. He sometimes takes you back to your place of defeat in order to build something good into your life. You may assume He must not want you to continue because you have failed so miserably in your attempt. Perhaps your problem was that you relied on your own strength instead of the Master's. Maybe you failed in a relationship. Jesus will not allow you to abandon it; He will help you learn from your failure and experience the difference He can make when He guides your relationships. When you try in God's strength, you may discover that success^ is indeed within your grasp. If you have recently experienced failure, you may be on the brink of receiving a profound revelation from God!

^success meaning spiritual success; not neccessarily material success

God speaks. today. Think about it.