I had the privilege and honor to attend the East Coast Pastor’s Wives and Support Staff Conference this past week. What an amazing time of fellowship, discipleship, and worship. The theme this year was “Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand,” Psalm 73:23.

Did you know Nevertheless and it’s synonyms are in the Bible over 200 times! One of the gifted speakers, Liz Hargraves, chose 1 Nevertheless verse, in Luke that really impacted me and I want to share some of what I gleaned. In chapter 5 of Luke, Jesus asks Peter to use his boat to preach from, since the crowd was closing in on him. So, Peter lets Jesus use his boat as a stage. But when He was done teaching and preaching, Jesus tells Peter, after a whole night of fishing and catching nothing, to cast their nets back into the sea. These fishermen are exhausted and feeling defeated, sound familiar? Nevertheless, Peter and Andrew obey Jesus and cast their nets. We know the end of the story, the nets fill up so full they are tipping the boat and tearing the net and their partners James and John had to help them with this miraculous, overflowing catch. Jesus asks them to follow Him and become fishers of men.

That Nevertheless changed everything, and not just for Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they started the Church after Pentecost, our Church, of which Jesus is the head, Jesus, the Bridegroom and us the bride! So, what is your challenge, trial, temptation, the thing that holds you back? Cast into the deep and give it to Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you some answers to the following questions:

Is my net empty? -  Am I using my natural gifts and abilities without Jesus? – Have I done things my way or His way? – Have I obeyed you Lord, or what the world has whispered in my ear, or is it something someone said, but is slightly asque from God’s Word? – Is it my way, my way, my way, presuming incorrectly that Jesus will bend to our will, our plans? – Have I not forgiven someone? Yes forgiveness!

We need to know our weaknesses and our strengths and give them to Jesus, don’t let pride become a hinderance to allowing God to move us in them and give Him the glory.

God asked Noah to build a boat in a desert, but Nevertheless. God asked Abraham to leave his family and go to a place He would tell him later, Nevertheless. God asked Moses to lead His people to the Promised Land and out of slavery to Pharoah, knowing Pharoah had all the power, Nevertheless. Joshua was told to walk around the walls of Jericho 7 times and blow the trumpets, sounds crazy but Nevertheless. More examples for you to study would be Gideon, Ruth, Esther, Paul, Stephen and all the disciples, except Judas Escariot, and so many more! Jesus asked His disciples to go and they went and they preached where there was hostility toward them and threats to their lives, Nevertheless. They obeyed Jesus words to them in Matthew 28 and the Gospel spread to the known world. The ULTIMATE NEVERTHELESS found in Matthew 26:42; Jesus, the Son of God, in the Garden of Gethsemane,” If this cup cannot be taken away, unless I drink it, Nevertheless let your will be done”, FOREVER changed everything for all mankind! Jesus restored the broken relationship with God the Father, exchanging His righteousness for our sins! Praise the Lord for His obedience!!!

Luke 5 tells us Peter, overwhelmed, fell at the fet of Jesus and followed Him! The cost Peter paid was swallowed up in privilege. Will you fall at Jesus feet like Peter? Are you so aware of your sinfulness? Do you realize you are in the presence of majesty? Will you pay the price of obedience? The beginning is knowing your brokenness. Will you let him be the fire in your spirit, do you need the Holy Spirit to blow on ashes and rekindle the fire? Throw out your net and trust the Lord for a catch! Is He asking you to go places you don’t want to go, or speak to people you don’t want to speak to, or ask you to do something for Him but you don’t have the resources? So again, I ask, will you, just like Peter, fall at His feet? Remember the cost is swallowed up by privilege! Jesus will not disappoint, He will make you, mold you, love you, hold you and yes correct you. But who has a better plan than God? I know I do not, so what is He asking you to do, please give Him your all, surrender and let it be your Nevertheless.

I like the quote that Liz shared,” Nevertheless is like the spoke of a wheel that everything Our Heavenly Father has purposed for us, turns on!”

Psalm 90:16-17 says” May your deeds be show to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lor our God rest on us; establish to work of our hands for us-yes establish the work of our hands.”                                

What an AWESOME God we serve, all Honor, Praise and Glory be to God in the Highest, You are worthy of it all! Amen.

The song “Worthy of it All,” by Cece Winans is in my heart and on my lips today, may it be also on yours! So, lift your face toward heaven, raise your hands and sing to the Lord!

God Bless,
Renee Miller

**If you need prayer, it would be a privilege to pray with you, please contact me by email, text or phone call, 610-223-2684.