today's meditation (Micah 5) Rebuilding with a Fresh New Start

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Micah 5:1-15)
1   “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;
     They have laid siege against us;
     With a rod they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2   But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
     Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
     From you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
     His times of coming forth are from long ago,
     From the days of eternity.”
3   Therefore He will give them up until the time 
     When she who is in labor has given birth.
     Then the remainder of His kinsmen 
     Will return to the sons of Israel.
4   And He will arise and shepherd His flock 
     In the strength of the Lord,
     In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
     And they will remain,
     Because at that time He will be great 
     To the ends of the earth.
5   This One will be our peace.
     When the Assyrian invades our land,
     When he tramples on our citadels,
     Then we will raise against him 
     Seven shepherds and eight leaders of people.
6   They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
     The land of Nimrod at its entrances;
     And He will rescue us from the Assyrian 
     When he invades our land,
     And when he tramples our territory.

7   Then the remnant of Jacob 
     Will be among many peoples 
     Like dew from the Lord,
     Like showers on vegetation 
     That do not wait for man,
     Or delay for mankind.
8   The remnant of Jacob 
     Will be among the nations,
     Among many peoples 
     Like a lion among the animals of the forest,
     Like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
     Which, if he passes through,
     Tramples and tears,
     And there is no one who can rescue.
9   Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries,
     And all your enemies will be eliminated.

10 “And it will be on that day,” declares the Lord,
     “That I will eliminate your horses from among you,
     And destroy your chariots.
11 I will also eliminate the cities of your land,
     And tear down all your fortifications.
12 I will eliminate sorceries from your hand,
     And you will have no fortune-tellers.
13 I will eliminate your carved images 
     And your memorial stones from among you,
     So that you will no longer bow down 
     To the work of your hands.
14 I will uproot your Asherim from among you,
     And destroy your cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath 
     On the nations which have not obeyed.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Here is a prophecy of God coming in the flesh, through the line of David.  The Israelites rejected Jesus as their Lord, Savior and King the first time He came, but in the Tribulation, they will see the signs of His second coming and as a nation, believe in Him.  All those becoming believers during the Tribulation, will enter the Millennial kingdom, when Jesus will sit as King and bring in perfect justice and peace.  

It makes total sense that Jesus would get rid of all idols and images of gods, and all evil.  But one might wonder, why destroy the cities and buildings that people have labored to construct?  Well... if any of those things remained, people would look at that with pride and once again rely on themselves, instead of looking to the strength and guidance of the Lord.  Jesus will rebuild and refurbish the earth as it should be.

We can look at our personal relationship with Jesus in the same way.  When we repent and become believers, Jesus forgives all our sins:  past, present and future!  It is a fresh new start!  And so, even though we have eternal security, why go back to sinful behaviors?  Why go back to relying on ourselves?  God has given all of us purpose and wants us to have the best life possible.  So, let us rely on Jesus to build us up and equip us with His spiritual peace, joy, wisdom, strength and confidence, for a life of true fulfillment, as He is the great architect of life.

today's meditation (Micah 4) Finding Help

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Micah 4:1-13) And it will come about in the last days 

     That the mountain of the house of the Lord 
     Will be established as the chief of the mountains.
     It will be raised above the hills,
     And the peoples will stream to it.
2   Many nations will come and say,
     “Come and let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord 
     And to the house of the God of Jacob,
     So that He may teach us about His ways,
     And that we may walk in His paths.”
     For from Zion will go forth the law,
     And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3   And He will judge between many peoples 
     And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
     Then they will beat their swords into plowshares,
     And their spears into pruning hooks;
     Nation will not lift a sword against nation,
     And never again will they train for war.
4   Instead, each of them will sit under his vine 
     And under his fig tree,
     With no one to make them afraid,
     Because the mouth of the Lord of armies has spoken.
5   Though all the peoples walk,
     Each in the name of his god,
     As for us, we will walk 
     In the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

6   “On that day,” declares the Lord,
     “I will assemble those who limp 
     And gather the scattered,
     Those whom I have afflicted.
7   I will make those who limp a remnant,
     And those who have strayed a mighty nation,
     And the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion 
     From now on and forever.
8   As for you, tower of the flock,
     Hill of the daughter of Zion,
     To you it will come—
     Yes, the former dominion will come,
     The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

9   “Now, why do you cry out loudly?
     Is there no king among you,
     Or has your counselor perished,
     That agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?
10 Writhe and scream,
     Daughter of Zion,
     Like a woman in childbirth;
     For now you will go out of the city,
     Live in the field,
     And go to Babylon.
     There you will be rescued,
     There the Lord will redeem you 
     From the hand of your enemies.
11 And now many nations have been assembled against you 
     Who say, ‘Let her be defiled,
     And let our eyes gloat over Zion!’
12 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord,
     And they do not understand His plan;
     For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
     For I will make your horn iron,
     And I will make your hoofs bronze,
     So that you may pulverize many peoples,
     And dedicate to the Lord their unjust profit,
     And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God is sovereign and has a plan.  The Israelites went into exile back then because of their disobedience, and they will again be under "Babylon" during the Tribulation.  At the end of the seven remaining years of the Jewish Age, Jesus will come again to fulfill all their covenants.  Verses 9-13 briefly discuss the Tribulation, while verses 1-8 describe the Millennial kingdom that follows it.  For now, as a nation, without believing in the Lord, the Israelites will be without a king.  

Why do people cry out in despair when they think there isn't any hope or "king" to help?  Why do people feel or think that God is not present?  This happens because as sinful people we tend to forget about God when we rely on ourselves.  All one needs to do is open their eyes to see that the Lord Jesus is right here and wanting to help, wanting to be our personal Savior, Lord and King.  And as verse 5 says, those who believe in the Lord have eternal security.  And because we believe in Him, we will desire to walk with Him in His will, relying on Him to help and guide us in all things.

today's meditation (Micah 3) Asking for Help

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Micah 3:1-12) And I said,

     “Hear now, you leaders of Jacob 
     And rulers of the house of Israel:
     Is it not for you to know justice?
2   You who hate good and love evil,
     Who tear off their skin from them 
     And their flesh from their bones,
3   Who eat the flesh of my people,
     Strip off their skin from them,
     Smash their bones,
     And chop them up as for the pot,
     And as meat in a cauldron!”
4   Then they will cry out to the Lord,
     But He will not answer them.
     Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time 
     Because they have practiced evil deeds.

5   This is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who lead my people astray:

     When they have something to bite with their teeth,
     They cry out, “Peace!”
     But against him who puts nothing in their mouths 
     They declare holy war.
6   Therefore it will be night for you—without vision,
     And darkness for you—without divination.
     The sun will go down on the prophets,
     And the day will become dark over them.
7   The seers will be put to shame,
     And the diviners will be ashamed.
     Indeed, they will all cover their lips 
     Because there is no answer from God.
8   On the other hand, I am filled with power—
     With the Spirit of the Lord—
     And with justice and courage 
     To make known to Jacob his rebellious act,
     And to Israel his sin.
9   Now hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob 
     And rulers of the house of Israel,
     Who despise justice 
     And twist everything that is straight,
10 Who build Zion with bloodshed,
     And Jerusalem with malice.
11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
     Her priests teach for pay,
     And her prophets divine for money.
     Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
     “Is the Lord not in our midst?
     Catastrophe will not come upon us.”
12 Therefore on account of you,
     Zion will be plowed like a field,
     Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
     And the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Just because someone declares something holy, like fighting "a holy war", doesn't make it so, and doesn't justify the actions.  And just because one asks God for help or peace doesn't mean He'll listen.  How does it make sense that while a person is working against the Lord and His will, that He would help in any way?  Basically, that person is asking God to work against Himself and His plans.

God is in omnipresent and omnipotent;  He is also omniscient!  Which means, He knows what is in our hearts.  When He sees us sincerely seeking Him for His help and peace, He will answer.  And it begins with us humbly realizing and admitting that we are sinners in need of forgiveness.  We are all in need of a Savior and His help, and only He is able.  Sin impedes our prayers, but God will "hear" and answer when we are reconciled with Him and make requests that are in His will.

today's meditation (Micah 2) Choosing to Listen

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Micah 2:1-13) Woe to those who devise wrongdoing,

     Who practice evil on their beds!
     When morning comes, they do it,
     Because it is in the power of their hands.
2   They covet fields, so they seize them;
     And houses, so they take them.
     They exploit a man and his house,
     A person and his inheritance.

3   Therefore this is what the Lord says:

     “Behold, I am planning against this family a catastrophe
     From which you cannot remove your necks;
     And you will not walk haughtily,
     For it will be an evil time.
4   On that day they will take up against you a song of mocking 
     And utter a song of mourning and say,
     ‘We are completely destroyed!
     He exchanges the share of my people;
     How He removes it from me!
     To the apostate He apportions our fields.’
5   Therefore you will have no one applying a measuring line 
     For you by lot in the assembly of the Lord.

6   ‘Do not prophesy,’ so they prophesy.
     But if they do not prophesy about these things,
     Insults will not be turned back.
7   Is it being said, house of Jacob:
     ‘Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?
     Are these His works?’
     Do My words not do good 
     For the one walking rightly?
8   Recently My people have arisen as an enemy—
     You strip the robe off the garment 
     From unsuspecting passers-by,
     From those returned from war.
9   You evict the women of My people,
     Each one from her pleasant house.
     From her children you take My splendor forever.
10 Arise and go,
     For this is no place of rest 
     Because of the uncleanness that brings on destruction,
     A painful destruction.
11 If someone walking after wind and falsehood 
     Had lied and said,
     ‘I will prophesy to you about wine and liquor,’
     He would become a prophet to this people.

12 “I will certainly assemble all of you, Jacob,
     I will certainly gather the remnant of Israel.
     I will put them together like sheep in the fold;
     Like a flock in the midst of its pasture 
     They will be noisy with people.
13 The one who breaks through goes up before them;
     They break through, pass through the gate, and go out by it.
     So their king passes on before them,
     And the Lord at their head.”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

It is sin that brings destruction, disaster and death.  People will rather hear lies which appeal to their gratification, than listen with gratitude and be obedient to God's words of truth which benefit our lives.  Those who recognize and choose the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, Lord and King are the ones who pass through the gate.  Jesus is the only way to freedom, righteousness and eternal life.

today's meditation (Micah 1) Seeking out the Lord's Will

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Micah 1:1-16) The word of the Lord which came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and which he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem.

2   Hear, you peoples, all of you;
     Listen carefully, earth and all it contains,
     And may the Lord God be a witness against you,
     The Lord from His holy temple.
3   For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place.
     He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.
4   The mountains will melt under Him 
     And the valleys will be split,
     Like wax before the fire,
     Like water poured down a steep place.
5   All this is due to the wrongdoing of Jacob 
     And the sins of the house of Israel.
     What is the wrongdoing of Jacob?
     Is it not Samaria?
     What is the high place of Judah?
     Is it not Jerusalem?
6   For I will make Samaria a heap of ruins in the open country,
     Planting places for a vineyard.
     I will hurl her stones down into the valley,
     And lay bare her foundations.
7   All of her idols will be crushed,
     All of her earnings will be burned with fire,
     And all of her images I will make desolate;
     For she collected them from a prostitute’s earnings,
     And to the earnings of a prostitute they will return.

8   Because of this I must mourn and wail,
     I must go barefoot and naked;
     I must do mourning like the jackals,
     And a mourning like the ostriches.
9   For her wound is incurable,
     For it has come to Judah;
     It has reached the gate of my people,
     Even to Jerusalem.
10 Do not tell it in Gath,
     Do not weep at all.
     At Beth-le-aphrah roll yourself in the dust in mourning.
11 Go on your way, inhabitant of Shaphir, in shameful nakedness.
     The inhabitant of Zaanan does not escape.
     The mourning of Beth-ezel: “He will take from you its support.”
12 For the inhabitant of Maroth 
     Waits for something good,
     Because a disaster has come down from the Lord 
     To the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Harness the chariot to the team of horses,
     You inhabitant of Lachish—
     She was the beginning of sin 
     To the daughter of Zion—
     Because in you were found 
     The rebellious acts of Israel.
14 Therefore you will give parting gifts 
     In behalf of Moresheth-gath;
     The houses of Achzib will become a deception 
     To the kings of Israel.
15 Moreover, I will bring on you 
     The one who takes possession,
     You inhabitant of Mareshah.
     The glory of Israel will enter Adullam.
16 Shave yourself bald, yes, cut off your hair,
     Because of the children of your delight;
     Extend your baldness like the eagle,
     For they will go from you into exile.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Shaving one's head in order to mourn is just one way the world will react when things go terribly wrong.  Over-the-top mourning and wailing really is all about the person.  "Look at me!  Look how sad and distressed I am."  But these cries are futile, and often manipulate.  Some people will show huge "remorse" - but only for getting caught.  While others who feel actual remorse for what they've done, only want to continue doing things their own way.  So, God tells these people to just go ahead and wail.  The "emotional release" is all they have, since they refuse to look to the Lord for His salvation and certain hope.

For believers, there is a healthy amount of mourning and remorse that is acceptable!  But instead of excessive, hopeless groveling, remember to keep seeking out the Lord and His will.  Do not just seek out the Lord for His help or you will be disappointed.  Part of knowing God's will shows us where we have gone wrong so that we can get back on track.  Remember, sin impedes prayer!

Now, just because we struggle through something, doesn't mean that we have sinned.  But it is always beneficial to do a heart check.  Is there something we need to confess?  Truly, the Lord is faithful to deliver us from that and bring us to a better place.  Jesus accomplished His work on the cross so that we would not have to wallow in guilt, sadness, self-pity, despair or remorse.  He forgives our sins so that we can experience freedom and security in His grace which leads to His peace, joy and contentment.  

today's meditation (Jonah 4) Being Aligned

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Jonah 4:1-11) But it greatly displeased Jonah, and he became angry. 2 Then he prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was this not what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore in anticipation of this I fled to Tarshish, since I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in mercy, and One who relents of disaster. 3 So now, Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.” 4 But the Lord said, “Do you have a good reason to be angry?”

5 Then Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. There he made a shelter for himself and sat under it in the shade, until he could see what would happen in the city. 6 So the Lord God designated a plant, and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head, to relieve him of his discomfort. And Jonah was overjoyed about the plant. 7 But God designated a worm when dawn came the next day, and it attacked the plant and it withered. 8 And when the sun came up God designated a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on Jonah’s head so that he became faint, and he begged with all his soul to die, saying, “Death is better to me than life!”

9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a good reason to be angry about the plant?” And he said, “I have good reason to be angry, even to the point of death!” 10 Then the Lord said, “You had compassion on the plant, for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight. 11 Should I not also have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 people, who do not know the difference between their right hand and their left, as well as many animals?”

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Jonah was angry for selfish reasons.  Things had not gone his way.  He had wanted all the people of Nineveh to die a terrible death, but had wanted that tree to stay alive, even though he had nothing to do with its existence.  Meanwhile, yes, God hates sin and will judge and punish all sinners.  Does He want to?  No!  God loves all people and has created all of us with a purpose, with a desire that we all come to know Him personally.  And when anyone humbly goes to Him for salvation, He will forgive all their sins and save them from eternal death.

If our hearts are right with God and aligned with His will... we will be praying for our own worst enemies to find salvation...  We would graciously forgive all those who hurt us, because God has forgiven us of all OUR sins...  Let's not get all high and mighty with pride, we are no better than anyone else!  So let us celebrate when anyone comes to know the Lord personally!   Let us pray for all our brothers and sisters in Christ that they grow in the Lord and remain steadfast.  And instead of criticizing each other or waiting for someone to stumble, let us help and encourage one another!  The more aligned we are to Jesus and His word, the more we will be aligned with each other!

today's meditation (Jonah 3) Having Remorse

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Jonah 3:1-10) Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” 3 So Jonah got up and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk. 4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, removed his robe from himself, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat on the dust. 7 And he issued a proclamation, and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: No person, animal, herd, or flock is to taste anything. They are not to eat, or drink water. 8 But every person and animal must be covered with sackcloth; and people are to call on God vehemently, and they are to turn, each one from his evil way, and from the violence which is in their hands. 9 Who knows, God may turn and relent, and turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their evil way, then God relented of the disaster which He had declared He would bring on them. So He did not do it.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Just as Jonah, who knew God and knew better, had finally turned to the Lord in prayer to be saved from the fish at the brink of death, the people of Nineveh repented and turned to the Lord to be saved.  Just as Jonah could have died in the fish but would have gone to heaven because he was a believer, the people of Nineveh who had become believers would have also gone to heaven, even if God had still destroyed the city.  But God decided to spare the people, just as He had spared Jonah.

Now it is very interesting that in these times, or maybe it is more about in these cultures, who worship gods and go to extremes of showing remorse and trying to win favor, that they automatically approach the Lord like this.  God doesn't expect sackcloth and ashes or sitting in the dirt - it is all about the condition of our hearts.  When someone goes to Him for salvation, or when believers go to Him to confess, God knows if we are sincere when our hearts and minds are humble and there is remorse, ready to accept and embrace His peace and joy.

In our relationship and walk with Jesus, His grace is always there, and it is amazing.  We cannot lose our salvation but let us not take it for granted.  God still hates sin, so our sin causes us to move away from Him.  Again, no need for sackcloth and ashes, but let us make our confessions to Him with a sincere and contrite heart that wants to stop sinful behavior and continue to cling to Him for His help, guidance and strength.

today's meditation (Jonah 2) Remaining Steadfast

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Jonah 2:1-10) Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, 2 and he said,

     “I called out of my distress to the Lord,
     And He answered me.
     I called for help from the depth of Sheol;
     You heard my voice.
3   For You threw me into the deep,
     Into the heart of the seas,
     And the current flowed around me.
     All Your breakers and waves passed over me.
4   So I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight.
     Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5   Water encompassed me to the point of death.
     The deep flowed around me,
     Seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6   I descended to the base of the mountains.
     The earth with its bars was around me forever,
     But You have brought up my life from the pit, Lord my God.
7   While I was fainting away,
     I remembered the Lord,
     And my prayer came to You,
     Into Your holy temple.
8   Those who are followers of worthless idols 
     Abandon their faithfulness,
9   But I will sacrifice to You 
     With a voice of thanksgiving.
     That which I have vowed I will pay.
     Salvation is from the Lord.”

10 Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

As Jonah tried to run away, God helped him get "even further".  I mean how far away can one get than in the belly of a fish in the middle of the sea wrapped in seaweed?  But God can reach us anywhere.  And still, I'm assuming with stubborn pride, even though Jonah had no other options, he held out for three days before crying out to the Lord.  

Whether the Lord saved Jonah from the fish or not, if Jonah had died there in that fish, he was saved from eternal death because he was a believer.  But since God was not yet finished with Jonah here on earth, Jonah was physically delivered to shore.  My takeaway from all of this is not just about confessing our sins as soon as possible, but trying not to ever run away from God in the first place!  I mean - we will - but if we can avoid all of that, why not strive to continuously live in God's will?  

To not run away doesn't just mean physically, it can be mentally or emotionally.  And instead of looking at it from a negative standpoint, we should consider this from a positive standpoint.  For everything in life, let us run to God and His word to find out what He says, pray about it, and then trust that the Lord will work all things out for good, while giving us His strength and guidance!  And when we do stumble or stray, as soon as possible, run back to God and confess.  THIS is how we remain steadfast!

FYI: People often think that this story couldn't be true, as it sounds quite incredible.  But I remember seeing an episode in 1976 from "The Undersea World of Jacque Cousteau" called "The Fish That Swallowed Jonah".  People have assumed it was a whale that swallowed Jonah, but these experts on sea life say that it was most likely one of the larger species of groupers.   The Fish That Swallowed Jonah, Episode 35 of 36, Jacques Cousteau Odyssey - YouTube

today's meditation (Jonah 1) Praying for Help

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Jonah 1:1-17) The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord.

4 However, the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea, so that the ship was about to break up. 5 Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried out to his god, and they hurled the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the stern of the ship, had lain down, and fallen sound asleep. 6 So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

7 And each man said to his mate, “Come, let’s cast lots so that we may find out on whose account this catastrophe has struck us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this catastrophe struck us? What is your occupation, and where do you come from? What is your country, and from what people are you?” 9 So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.”

10 Then the men became extremely afraid, and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you so that the sea will become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. 12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, because I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” 13 However, the men rowed desperately to return to land, but they could not, because the sea was becoming even stormier against them. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life, and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, Lord, have done as You pleased.”

15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men became extremely afraid of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

17 And the Lord designated a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Jonah's feeble attempt to run away from God by leaving Israel could be likened to when disgruntled Christians stop going to church.  And because of Jonah's disobedience, besides being swallowed by a great fish, the men on the boat were also made to suffer.  When a Christian stops going to church, not only will they suffer consequences, but it will impact those around them.  It will impact one's testimony to unbelievers who are observing.  It can shake the faith of weaker Christians.  And it can be discouraging even for the mature Christians.

While it is important to consider those around us, we are all just responsible for our own relationship and walk with God.  Interestingly, part of our walk with God involves our testimony and interaction with those around us - but - it all starts with our relationship with God! We've got to know, there isn't any place we can go to hide from the Lord!  He knows and sees everything.  And as Creator, and as our loving and perfect heavenly Father, He is sovereign and wants to help us in every aspect of our lives.

Whatever God asks of us, we are not to do it in our own strength.  We will tire out, mess up, and become discouraged, because what God asks of us is impossible... unless we look to Him to do it for us.  For everything and anything, instead of running away from God, we can run to God and ask Him to do things for us in His strength, wisdom and love.  Even loving others as we should!  I have prayed this prayer many times, "Lord, help me to love - be my love - please, love these people for me!"  I have even prayed this, "Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief!"  

To pray in God's will, it is important to know what His will is.  We can easily figure that out by reading and studying His word.  And then, when we ask the Lord to do things for us that He asks of us to do - He will answer and does answer these prayers!  He is our Help!  And He is faithful!