A WORD FOR TODAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2022

*A WORD FOR TODAY*

*MAY YOUR TOIL NEVER BE IN VAIN IN THIS LIFE*

_"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 great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking"(Luke 5:5-6)_

_*In life, we are bound to toil and work hard. It is always the case that if you work very hard, you will make tremendous progress and achieve success. However, it is also possible that someone who has put in much in terms of toil gets so little when circumstances of life works against the persons effort.*_

_The gospel reading of today teaches us a very important principle in achieving success. First you must listen to the directive from the Lord's voice and you must do what the Lord commands._

_*Simon and his companions were professionals in fishing, but on this day they laboured through the night and they caught nothing. This simply teaches us that we will not achieve much when we ignore God or remove Him entirely from our lives, our efforts will simply amount to exercise in futility.*_

_We can never do without God, He is our maker and our sure way to success. If we want to succeed in this life and for our efforts not to amount to nothing, we must make sure that we walk with Jesus everyday and let His word be our guide as we journey in life._

_*There is power in God's word. As soon as Peter obeyed Jesus' word, what could not happen in the night, became possible in the morning. This encounter made Peter to realize his unworthiness, but Jesus told him not to be afraid, but to prepare for a higher mission of winning souls for the kingdom.*_

_Our efforts and hardwork will not be in vain if we make God number one in our life. He is our sure way to victory. We must hold unto Him firmly and hearken to His voice and in that way we shall be rest assured that our testimony will surely come at the appointed time._

_*In that your business, work, studies, vocation, career, profession, marriage, projects and undertakings, make sure that you have God as your number one and He will give you the grace and strength to always succeed even when odds are against you.*_

_Good morning dearest one. Smile😊as you do your work and do have a miraculous day and a blessed new month of September. May Jesus speak His word in your life so that your toil will yield success and unlimited breakthrough. Amen. *And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* 1 Corinthians 3:18-23/Psalm 24:1-6/Luke 5:1-11

*Watch-Word:* Follow Me says the Lord and I will make you fishers of men.

*With God we shall succeed, but without Him we shall labour in vain and toil for nothing.*

(Thursday of the twenty-second week in the ordinary time. Year II)

*© Rev. Fr. Augustine Eleke*