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Friday, July 31, 2020

When I’m Feeling Hopeless, I Should Start with Prayer

In review of Jonah 2:1 I read, From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.” Jonah 2:1 (NIV)

Jonah's was a prayer of thanksgiving, not one of deliverance. He was simply happy that he had not drowned. No matter where I am, I can pray and God will hear me. My predicament is never too difficult for God. When life is going well, I tend to take God for granted; but when I lose hope, I cry out to him. This results in an inconsistent, up-and-down spiritual life. I need to look to God during both the good and bad times, and I will have a stronger spiritual life. 

There are times when I’ve felt swallowed up by life. Being surrounded by depression, conflict, worry, or guilt, and I felt hopeless.

When faced with a hopeless situation, think about what Jonah did.

After Jonah had run from God’s mission for his life, God prepared a great fish to swallow him up. As he sat in that great fish, Jonah looked up to God.

In fact, the entire second chapter of this book is Jonah praying while he sinks into the ocean and gets swallowed by a giant fish. It’s a lesson for me that when I’m feeling overwhelmed, to also look up to God in prayer.

From the very first verse of the chapter, I can see Jonah turning to God: “From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God” (Jonah 2:1 NIV).

Some problems in life will never go away unless I learn to look to God in prayer.

In Mark 9, some of Jesus’ followers had been trying to drive a demon out of someone, but they couldn’t. They asked Jesus why. Jesus responded: “This kind can come out only by prayer” (Mark 9:29 NIV).

Some problems are so deeply rooted that only persistent prayer will solve them. It’s not just about just a one-time prayer, either. If I only care about something enough to pray about it once, I don’t really care about it. If I truly want to see something happen in my life, I will pray about it over and over.

God wants to see whether I want it desperately enough to keep on praying! He’s more interested in building my faith than he in answering every little prayer.

If I’m feeling hopeless, look up to God and keep praying. Never give up!

In summary, no matter where I am, I can pray and God will hear me. My predicament is never too difficult for Him. When life is going well, I tend to take God for granted; but when I lose hope, I cry out to him. This results in an inconsistent, up-and-down spiritual life. I need to look to God during both the good and bad times. When faced with a hopeless situation, think about what Jonah did. He looked up to God. It’s a lesson for me that when I’m feeling overwhelmed, to also look up to God in prayer. Some problems in life will never go away unless I learn to look to God in prayer. Some problems are so deeply rooted that only persistent prayer will solve them. It’s not just about just a one-time prayer, either. If I only care about something enough to pray about it once, I don’t really care  about it. If I truly want to see something happen in my life, I will pray about it over and over. God wants to see whether I want it desperately enough to keep on praying! He’s more interested in building my faith than he in answering every little prayer. So learn to look up to God and keep praying. Never give up!

I need to always look up to God with whatever difficulty or stressful situation. I need to continually pray and allow God to build my faith in Him. As I face my work today and what’s above to happen, I just need to focus, clarify my request and keep praying, I should also be prepared that it may take time as I’m tested and prepared for his answer. I also pray for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask these things in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thursday, July 30, 2020

Three Miracles I Can Expect When I Embrace God’s Mission

In review of Jonah 1:16, I read  “The sailors were awestruck by the LORD’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.” (NLT)

Jonah had disobeyed God. While he was running away, he stopped and submitted to God. Then the ship's crew began to worship God because they saw the storm quiet down. God is able to use even my mistakes to help others come to know him. It may be painful, but admitting my sin can be a powerful example to those who don't know God. 

As I embrace God’s mission for my life, miracles can happen.

This can be seen in the life of Jonah. God told him to warn the people of Nineveh that judgment was near, but Jonah didn’t want to do it. So he ran in the opposite direction and boarded a ship to Tarshish, far away from where God wanted him to be.

In order to get Jonah back on mission, God sent a violent storm to stop the ship. “‘Throw me into the sea,’ Jonah said, ‘and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault’” (Jonah 1:12 NLT).

When Jonah finally obeyed God, three miracles happened. These same miracles will happen as I embrace God’s mission for my life.

1). Life calms down. Suddenly there will be peace where there was previously a storm. Storms don’t usually stop immediately, but this one did. God ended the storm the moment Jonah was tossed into the sea. God has a purpose for the storms I face in life. He may be trying to get my attention. His purpose is always greater than my problem. When I accept God’s mission, he’ll calm the storm sent to get my attention.

2). Unbelievers will believe. Jonah was on a ship full of people who didn’t believe in God. They were astounded that God stopped the storm when they threw Jonah overboard. And so, “The men were terrified of the Lord. They offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord” (Jonah 1:16 GW). Because a person who believed in God suddenly went the right way instead of the wrong way, unbelievers believed. I have co-workers who aren’t followers of Jesus. I might be affecting their willingness to put their trust in Jesus. My life and my choices could be keeping them from coming to Christ. When I finally give 100 percent to God, they will be curious to have what I have.

3). God shows me mercy. The Bible says in Jonah 1:17, “The Lord sent a big fish to swallow Jonah” (GW). That doesn’t sound like mercy, but it was. Jonah lived after being tossed overboard in a storm because God sent a big fish to swallow him up. The tendency is to think that if I come back and embrace God’s mission, he’ll punish me for all the time they wasted. However, that’s just not true. Embracing God’s unique mission for my life is the best thing I can do. He wants me to fulfill it, so he will welcome me back with open arms

Then miracles can follow.

In summary, others can be awestruck by the LORD’s great power, and can turn to Him. Jonah had disobeyed God. While running away, he stopped and submitted. Then the ship's crew began to worship God because they saw the storm quiet down. God is able to use even my mistakes to help others come to know him. Admitting my sin can be a powerful example. As I embrace God’s mission, miracles can happen. To get Jonah back on mission, God sent a violent storm to stop the ship. When Jonah finally obeyed, three miracles happened. These same miracles will happen as I embrace God’s mission. First life calms down. There will be peace where there was previously a storm. God has a purpose for the storms I face in life. He may be trying to get my attention. His purpose is always greater than my problem. When I accept God’s mission, he’ll calm the storm sent to get my attention. Secondly, unbelievers will believe. When a person who believed in God suddenly went the right way instead of the wrong way, unbelievers believed. I have co-workers who aren’t followers of Jesus. I might be affecting their willingness to put their trust in Jesus. My life and my choices could be keeping them from coming to Christ. When I finally give 100 percent, they will be curious to have what I have. Lastly, God shows me mercy. The tendency is to think that if I come back and embrace God’s mission, he’ll punish me for all the time they wasted. That’s just not true. Embracing God’s unique mission is the best thing I can do. He wants me to fulfill it, so he will welcome me back with open arms. 

Perhaps I have not been fully embracing the mission God has for me in the last several years. I have tended to embrace my work as everything I do, and not really focusing on what God wants me to do. He has put me in place where I am and brought the storms I have encountered, especially in my recent job. I know he is working to build me. My attitude should be more focused on the relationships I have and the example I can set, than on just accomplishing the work. God I stop and reflect that you have a unique mission you want me to fulfill in my life. While I'm at my current job, I will do what I can to positively affect the lives of others around me and to serve.  

Father I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit in my life that I can more deeply embrace your mission for me. I pray for those in my work life who aren’t followers of Jesus and ask you to use me to bring about curiosity and help lead them to you. I ask also for wisdom and guidance today for my choices, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask this through your Son Jesus’ name, amen.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

What Happens When I Run from God and His Direction For My Life

In review of Jonah 1:3 this morning, I read that  when given direction Jonah immediately tried to run away from the LORD by going to Tarshish.” (GW)

Jonah knew that God had a specific job for him, but he didn't want to do it. When God gives me direction through his Word, I can run in fear, or be stubborn, or think God is asking way too much of me. Running can only get me into trouble. I need to understand that it is best to do what God asks in the first place. I can pay a costly price for running. It is far better to obey from the start.

God has given me a unique mission. He also gives me a choice as to whether or not I fulfill that mission.

God gave Jonah a mission: to warn the people of Nineveh that judgment was coming. But “Jonah immediately tried to run away from the Lord by going to Tarshish” (Jonah 1:3 GW).

Jonah faced consequences for his decision, the same kind of consequences I too may encounter if I run away from God’s mission for my life.

The Bible says that when Jonah boarded a ship to get away from his mission, God sent a powerful wind to push the boat back (Jonah 1:4).

Why did God do that? In Jonah’s circumstance God loved him and wanted him to make a good decision that would give him a life of purpose and fulfillment. God will often send opposition my way to encourage me to make better decisions.

Jonah’s disobedience also threatened the lives of everyone on the boat to Tarshish. When I run away from God, innocent people, including those I care about, can get hurt. Maybe it’s your spouse, your kids, your grandkids, or your friends. Sometimes it’s people I don’t even know. People can get hurt because of my disobedience.

Jonah shows that when I run from God, my life starts a downward trajectory. My disobedience will cost me financially, physically, and relationally.

Nineveh was more than 550 miles away, but Jonah tried running to Tarshish, which was 2,500 miles away in the opposite direction. The truth is, I can’t run from God for the rest of my life. He’s everywhere and he knows everything. But he gives me choices because he wants me to love him and follow him voluntarily.

Since God has my best interest at heart, why run from him?

In summary, After learning what God wanted him to do, Jonah immediately tried to run away from the LORD. Jonah knew that God had a specific job for him, but he didn't want to do it. When God gives me direction through his Word, I can run in fear, or be stubborn, or think God is asking way too much of me. However running can only get me into trouble. God has given me a unique mission. He also gives me a choice as to whether or not I fulfill that mission. I may face and encounter consequences if I run away from God’s mission for my life. God loves me and wants me to make a good decision that would give me a life of purpose and fulfillment. God will often send opposition my way to encourage me to make better decisions. When I run away from God, innocent people, including those I care about, can get hurt. Sometimes it’s people I don’t even know. Also when I run from God, my life starts a downward trajectory. My disobedience will cost me financially, physically, and relationally. I can’t run from God for the rest of my life. He’s everywhere and he knows everything. But he gives me choices because he wants me to love him and follow him voluntarily.

Today I need to consider if I’m running away from something God has told me to do and why do I think I’m resisting? I must always remember that God is for me and not against me. I must be willing to obey whatever God asks.

Father I pray this morning for clarity on the mission you have for me. I can fulfill what I already know to be true from your Word, by how I respond to the leadership above (regardless of what they have done) by doing what’s right regardless. I want to finish in my role well, and do as much as I can to help complete the objectives that have been set before me. I also ask for wisdom and guidance for my next job role, for my day, for my work, for my leadership and for my interactions with others. These things I pray in our Son Jesus’ name, Amen.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

Fulfilling God’s Mission Will Take a Step of Faith

In review Jonah 1:2 this morning, it says, Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” (NIV)

When God first gave Jonah his mission, it required a huge step of faith. In fact, the step was so big that Jonah initially ran from it.

At the time, Nineveh was the biggest and most important city in the world. It was the capital of Assyria, the strongest empire of the day. Nineveh was also a beautiful city with wide boulevards, parks, canals, great architecture, palaces, and temples.

For Jonah to preach to them, it would take a step of faith. Why? First, Jonah had grown up in a small village. Yet God was calling him to reach the biggest city in the world. Plus, it was more than 550 miles away. It wouldn’t be easy to get there.

Most importantly, Assyria had captured, dominated, and enslaved the Jews multiple times. The Assyrians hated Israel, and Israel hated the Assyrians. They were mortal enemies. They were political enemies. They were religious enemies. They were racial enemies.

But God wanted to save these people too, so he sent Jonah on a mission to them. However, instead of obeying, Jonah ran from God’s plan. He wouldn’t take the step of faith necessary to start his mission, let alone complete it.

Like Jonah’s mission, my God-given mission will test my faith. It may challenge my comfort zones. It may challenge my prejudices. It may challenge my politics.

But I can’t accomplish God’s mission for my life without faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

What Jonah eventually learned is that God will be with us every step along our mission, guiding and providing for us. Jesus promised this when he gave the Great Commission.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV).

When God gives direction through his Word, running can only get me into trouble. It is best to do what God asks in the first place. It's far better to obey from the start.

In summary, when God asks, go. It will require a huge step of faith. Like Jonah’s mission, my God-given mission will test my faith. It may challenge my comfort zones. But I can’t accomplish God’s mission for my life without faith. God will be with us every step along our mission, guiding and providing. When God gives direction through his Word, running can only get me into trouble. It is best to do what God asks in the first place. It's far better to obey from the start.

In reflection, the scariest part of following God’s mission for me is that it will test and challenge my comfort zone. I think this is because I’m an introvert and prefer to be in the background than up front. It's also something I am not sure I know how to do, thus would rather stay away from. Over and over in my quiet times, I hear to put my trust in God. I just need to remember Proverbs 3:5, “to trust in the Lord with all my heart”. It’s also important that I ask others to know what I’m going to do and to ask for their support via prayer.

Father, I know that I shy away at times. With the help of the Holy Spirit I am encouraged in small ways to step out in faith. I ask you for wisdom for my day, my preparations for my next job, my work, my leadership and my interaction with others. These things I pray in your Son Jesus’ name, Amen.