One More Time: An Invitation and a Give-away
I still remember exactly where I was standing when I turned those Hillsong song lyrics into an earnest prayer–Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.
I was leaning over the kitchen sink as tears drizzled down my cheeks and dripped right into the soapy dish water stacked with greasy dinner plates and shiny silverware. I’d just celebrated my fortieth birthday, and I as I stepped into a new decade, I was acutely aware of the fact that I only had one shot at life in this dust-draped world. And when I slowed my feet and took time to listen to the cries of my heart, I had the nagging feeling that there was more. Not more stuff to buy or more titles to secure; not more places to visit or more goals to reach. Just more of Jesus to discover. More of His Kingdom to build. More life that is really life to experience.
And though I didn’t really know what it would mean to go deeper than my feet could ever wander, I knew one thing for sure- I didn’t want to look back someday and regret the fact that I’d never mustered the courage to live the life Jesus had dreamed for me. And so I prayed those bold words, and I told Jesus I would follow Him wherever He called.
And you know what? That prayer began an adventure that is still unfolding today. That prayer prompted my family to say yes, we’ll follow you, even when it meant pulling up deep roots and moving away from the comfortable life we’d established in our sweet little hometown surrounded by family and friends. That prayer led our family to say yes, we’ll follow you even when it meant stepping into a messy and miraculous international adoption and trusting that God is big enough to bring our little one home some day.
That prayer has driven me to my knees and tugged me to my feet in praise. That prayer has stretched me and shaped me and satisfied me in ways I could have never imagined.
Maybe that’s why opening Suzie Eller‘s new book felt like finally finding a friend for the journey. A friend who understands. A friend who isn’t content to wade in shallow waters. A friend who knows what it means to follow into the deep and find Jesus there. A friend who is ready to reach out her hand and pull me along with a gentle word of encouragement and a generous heaping of faith.
Come with Me:Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads made me want to walk on water or at least grab the hand of the One who can!
Suzie’s new book isn’t really just a book. It’s an irresistible invitation to transformation.
An invitation to say YES to deeper faith and deeper joy.
And today, I’m delighted to have my dear friend and P31 teammate, Suzie Eller, here at the Overflow extending that invitation to you…
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One more time
I had my Bible in my hand. My purse nearby. A car would soon take me to the airport.
It was time to go, except I knew the Lord wanted me to share one more thing.
People were still sitting in their seats and talking. The Holy Spirit had sweetly swept over the meetings and people lingered. I walked to the microphone, knowing the words I would say before I spoke them.
I had read them in the book of Luke earlier that week.
One more time.
Those were the words.
Throw out your nets one more time.
When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” Luke 5:4-5 (NIV)
Simon was exhausted. Casting the heavy nets into the water, and lugging them back in over and over was a chore. When the nets came back empty every time, it was disappointing.
But he did it.
He took the clean nets and pushed out into the deep and he let them down. Fish scrambled into the nets so quickly that it nearly capsized his boat.
I love that story, but as I stood in front of those women I understood what “one more time” might mean to them.
Pray one more time over that hurting marriage or relationship.
Believe one more time for that prodigal child.
Take one more step even though it seems to lead to nowhere.
Plant one more seed in that dream that seems futile.
My flesh rebelled against asking women – women of faith who had been casting their nets over and over again – to try one more time when so far, they had little to show for it.
But God said it. . . and He knew them far better than I did.
I whispered yes where no wanted to take root
I asked them for a few moments and I told them the story of Simon Peter. I shared how weary he was and how all that he wanted to do was to climb into his comfortable bed and forget about the night behind him.
I told them Jesus understood that Simon was tired. That the nets were heavy. That it was discouraging.
I told them that Jesus saw under the water line.He saw what Simon Peter couldn’t, and it wasn’t just fish.
It was the deep.
Let’s go back to that verse in Luke 5:4-5.
When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
Jesus could have performed the same miracle in the shallow. He could have asked them to lay their nets on the shore and invite the fish to swim into the nets.
Instead the invitation was to push into the deep.
In the deep it’s a partnership. We put our hands on the rugged boat and push out.
We take a step out and God takes a step in as He meets us.
For Simon, the miracle wasn’t the catch of fish but that he became a “catcher of men.”
That’s the transformation that takes place inside of us as we push into the deep.
One more time.
We are asked to push out into the deep one more time in our calling or ministries.
We may want to throw our hands up and give up. But let’s throw our hands up in surrender instead. If our ministry is about Him, it’s not about how much we “catch” or how long it takes, but “one more time” is watching God work in the thousands — or the one.
We are asked to push out into the deep in personal issues that seem like they’ll never change.
It’s scary when the past or an addiction or temptation or feelings bullies us.
It’s in the deep that we realize that he’s not going to let us sink. “One more time” means that He’ll pull us up, over and over again until we no longer feel that the deep is over our head.
And this is the miracle. We turn around and start pulling others up with His help, because we get it. We know how hard it is, but we also know what it is to be free.
We are asked to push out into the deep one more time in our faith.
There’s not one believer that hasn’t experienced a time when it felt like God was a million miles away, or when they had doubts or hard questions.
You may think you are the only one, but we’ve all been there.
It’s in the deep that we discover that he’s not angry at our doubts or questions. He’s not mad at us because we are in a low season of our faith.
“One more time” is a reminder that He knows exactly who He is. We’ve somehow been led to believe that faith is never wavering, never doubting, or never hitting a low season, when instead the fact that you reach for God in the midst of that describes faith beautifully.
Our doubts or anger or questions are welcomed as He reveals his character in that low season. He walks with us until we reach the other side.
One more time.
That’s our invitation.
Will you say yes?
Let’s accept the invitation from our Savior to discover what’s waiting under the water line, just for us.
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Today I’m giving away a free copy of Suzie’s beautiful book!
For your chance to win, just leave a comment telling me what Jesus is asking you to do one more time these days. I promise I’ll pray for you as you are beckoned into the deep.
Or if you’re pressed for time, just write-“I’m following where He leads!” and I’ll know you’ve been here.
Suzie is a Proverbs 31 Ministries writer, ECPA bestselling author and blogger. She’s been featured on Focus on the Family, Aspiring Women, Harvest Show, 100 Huntley Street, KLOVE, Daystar and numerous other programs. Suzie is a regular contributor to KLRC radio’s Words that Make a Positive Difference.
She is an author of eight books including her most recent, Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads.
When she’s not writing, you can find Suzie playing with her six grandbabies, all under the age of five. Find out more about Suzie and Come With Me: Discovering the Beauty of Following Where He Leads at www.tsuzanneeller.com
This might help me because I have really hit a point of discouragement right now. I have been praying and doing the right thing for many many years. I really need to say One More Time.
Sounds simple, but the thing I need to do one more time is to just TRUST that He really is good.
I’m following where He leads, thanking Him every step of the way🙏🙏🙏
I am following Jesus as He has called my husband, 2 young boys and I to move to a new state and given us His love for a city there. Its been one step at a time. Our house has sold and now we are praying and waiting for my husband to find a job in this city. Things are happening in a different order than we had thought but God’s hand is on everything and we know He is faithful and will lead us. We are truly laying down and surrendering our plans and asking Him to teach us along the way.
One more time- serving cheerfully (my own family and taking care of my father-in-law & his farm) and ignoring the enemy’s lies that say it is not appreciated or reciprocated.
Thank you for this devotional!
I’m following Jesus one more time by helping my husband through Parkinson’s and dementia. It is an overwhelming experience but Jesus will go before me. I have to cling to that promise.
Prayers for my 17 yr old daughter struggling with depression and does not sleep much at all. Help her call out and believe that God can heal her. Help her push through the pain and the grief as many times as she needs to “one more time” and not give up on God or give in to Satan. Thank you:)
I thank God for women He puts in my life like you, who He uses to encourage & help me grow. As I started this new year I committed to drawing closer to God like never before ! Too often the struggle seems more fierce than my Faith…but I’m determined to push through just like you said…ONE MORE TIME !! I know it’s GOD challenging me to dig deeper into His Word so I can really Walk in His Love & His Truth. I praise and thank God for never giving up on me. For loving me enough to not leave me the way that I am, but ONE MORE TIME changing me, strengthening my faith and allowing me to grow closer to Him in all that I do 🙂 I want His Presence to be so strong it’s as though He is standing right next to me !! Whispering in my ear all that He wants me to know…O’Lord my God you know how my heart longs for that !!
Thank you so much for this devotion, Alicia! It’s exactly what I needed this morning. During my quiet time, I’ve been trying to meet the Lord and be present for his continued guidance for a ministry that I believe He has planted in my heart decades ago. But each time I try, I come up empty handed. I still try anyway, though feeling defeated. Your article reminds me of God’s presence with me as I continue my efforts, that He remains in control despite what I see or feel. So, I will try one more time, and then again, and again until our Lord deems that I am ready for His burst of blessing and divine providence, when He determines the timing to be right. Yes, Lord, though weary and about to lose hope, I say yes to you, one more time.
One more time . . . to forgive and soften my hardened heart.
Oh yes! I am accepting His call. I am following where my sweet Savior leads. No matter what I will read this new book. I just love everything Suzanne Eller writes, because she writes from her heart. Thank you Alicia for this lovely blog & prayer today.
Follow Him and trust he has given me the right tools to do my job well.
I want to follow Him where He leads!
Would love to read your book. Get discouraged about things God has showed me that are slow in coming as I count slow.
Blessings!
Just one more time don’t give up on husband whom has been gone for almost 3 years in wilderness and youngest son who has just recently decided to join him. Lord I am trying to not give up on them but feel I am getting harden heart in process..
Love the sound of this book! Praying again for God to transform my heart; to help me watch my words; transform my marriage; help me lead out and not hold back in fears; to not stay stuck; to believe and trust God so I won’t stay bound in guilt, shame and regret. So overwhelmed with so much to pray asking God to take over the reigns and for me to deny self and follow Him.
Wow… This is such a timely post for me. One more time — one more deep prayer. One more step of faith. One more day with Jesus!
God bless,
Gina
I’m striving to follow where He leads. I don’t know where or what that is now, so I’m just working to be faithful in loving, teaching and training the 4 blessings He has given me. I know that likely could be the greatest work I will ever do.
I want to follow HIM! I know He wants me to do something; I just haven’t found out what that is yet! I know I need prayer! <3
He is asking me to trust and depend on Him. All I need to do (and it is very hard since I am a control freak) is allow Him to direct my thoughts, my steps, and my actions. Keep my focus on Him! Let Him work!
I have some chronic health issues that would qualify me for disability. But God wants me to keep going in my career as a registered nurse. I could tell you about all the things that make this very difficult, but I won’t here. God wants me to go one more time and I am trying to figure out where He wants me to work.
Suzie’s book, “The Mended Heart” was such a blessing when we studied it that I look forward to journeying with her again through the gospel of Luke in this new book. “Following where He leads” is certainly what I desire! Thanks for sharing this beautiful encouragement!
I am following where he leads, and praying I can hear that “still calm voice” even in the busyness and distractions that surround me! Thank you Alicia!
He has asked me over and over to take some weight off. I’m listening this time because of a study we are doing on 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit.
I’m following Jesus!
Jesus is asking me to pray for my marriage, to work on it and not give up. And I will over and over…just one more time.
I am following where He leads. This year has been hard thus far. I had a miscarriage at 13 weeks with my 2nd baby, a few days later lost my great-grandmother, and we recently moved to a new city. The Lord is Sovereign and I am trusting in His plan.
I don’t know where he’s leading me during this season of my life, but I’m following, and earnestly praying that I will be faithful to Him who cannot be unfaithful.
Right now my desire is to be a more loving person and not critical of others in anyway.
Continuously telling me to have compassion for those that I have a hard time accepting in my life.
I’m following where He leads. He is asking me to change positions at work and work different hours.
He’s asking me to trust Him in a situation where I am stepping out in faith. My knees may be shaking, but I’m going to obey!
Thank you for this, Read the Bible and Prayer.
Jesus is asking me to reach out to my dad one more time. My dad has rejected me and my brother since we helped my mom move out when she separated from him nearly 3 years ago. The circumstances around her moving out were such that we had to sneak her out for her safety. My dad sees our involvement as utter betrayal. This isn’t the first time that he has demonstrated toward a family member that his love can be conditional, but I had held on to hope that with ME (his one and only daughter) it would be different. Still, I have made attempts to keep communication open, I’ve apologized for hurting him, and most of all I’ve been praying that through all this God will use this to soften my dads heart, open his eyes, and draw him closer to Him. The handful of times my dad has answered the phone when I’ve called over the last 3 years have all ended badly (him yelling at me like a child). The enemy would like for me to give up trying and give up praying. I still pray, but because of the abusive home we grew up in, it’s hard to want to keep trying to call and subject my heart to his emotional and verbal abuse even now as an adult. But I KNOW Jesus is still asking for “one more time” each time …
I’m following where He leads!” and I’ll know you’ve been here
I ‘m Following where he Leads Me – I Love how Jesus is with me each and every day – Thank You Jesus – I just watched the Movie Risen and That was The Last Major Scene in the movie from Luke 5 : 4-5 it was So Beautiful , Thank You for this Opportunity to Win a Copy of Suzanne Eller Book – Come With Me – I tried to Win Last week with the beautiful Facebook Party but No Luck – Hopefully Today I will get to Win my own copy of here new Book Love Raquel Aguillon
Would love to read your new book ” One More Time.” Thanks for the chance to win!
I’m following where he leads…….I’m saying yes !
I’m following where he leads!