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!