Now Yahweh's word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Jonah 1:1-3 WEB.The Lord told Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh. But Jonah boarded a ship and sailed to Tarshish, about 2,500 miles in the opposite direction. Soon a terrible storm overtook them, and after much debate, Jonah was cast into the raging sea to calm the storm.
As Jonah was drowning there with seaweed wrapped around his head, a great fish God had prepared for this occasion came by and swallowed him up. After sitting there in the dark for a while, Jonah came to his senses as the prodigal son had. He could see clearly now! He began to pray while sitting inside the belly of that fish, and soon it spits him out on dry land.
This time Jonah went to Nineveh, and the message he brought saved 120,000 people. Everyone in Jonah's book did what God wanted, even the fish and the heathens. Everyone except His prophet, Jonah.
Has there ever been a time when the Lord wanted you to do something, but you did the exact opposite? I have. We usually know right from wrong but choose to enjoy sin for a while anyway. Even the apostle Paul said, "For I don't understand what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do, but what I hate, that I do" (Romans 7:15).
If you are like me, you have probably been in the storm before and felt like you were drowning, tangled up in bad stuff, and ready to throw in the towel. We start to think, "If only I had listened, I wouldn't be here."
Just remember, it is not over or too late to make a change. You can pray to the Lord from the dark place you are in, and He will restore you. He can help you find the pathway out. Then He will use you to save others, just as He did with Jonah, just as He has done with me.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy and grace and for sparing me from things I have well earned. Please set my feet on the solid rock and give me a clear vision going forward. Help me stand steadfast and fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link:
Ladies in Distress > You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
Yes, amen Lord Jesus, amen.
Amen Father
Amen
Amen
Amen.
Amen!
Amen. Thank You Father for your Mercy
Amen
Amen!!
Amen
Amen Good Morning Everyone
In Lord Yeshua's name we pray, Amen.
Amen thank you Father for picking me up and dusting me off and pointing me in the right direction
Thanks for the reminder, Pastor Dion! Lord, help me stand steadfast and fulfill Your will in my life. Amen
yes, Thank you Pastor for a reminder.
Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy and grace and for sparing me from things I have well earned. Please set my feet on the solid rock and give me a clear vision going forward. Help me stand steadfast and fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Sounds like me trying to diet!!
I love you God. Amen
Amen
Amen Lord Jesus!
Amen, thankyou father from spareing me from the things I've well earned, and please Lord set my feet on the solid rock and give me a clear vision going forward, in Jesus name, Amen
Thank you for this devotion today! We all have strayed and fallenl short of the will of God. We all have stumbled and done the opposite of what God called us to do. The good news is as soon as you realize what you have done, go straight to God as the prodigal son or daughter and pour out your heart to Him and ask him for forgiveness. I guarantee you He will forgive you in a heart beat if you are sincere in your prayer. God loves each of us so so much more than we can ever realize. We dont deserve it but He still loves us. When I was younger I thought I had messed up so bad that God couldnt love me any more but God spoke to me and told me how much He loves me and now I can actually feel it and know it is true. He told me this, " If your daughter was mean to you would you stop loving her? I said no, then He said,, What if she killed someone would you stop loving her then . I said no. He said what if she said she never wanted to see you or talk to you again, would you stop loving her then? I said no, never, He said would it grieve your heart? I said yes it would but I would never stop loving my only child. Then I realized He was speaking to me to make me realize how much He loves me. If we love our stubborn children, how much more does He love us.I finally get it, there is nothing that I can do that will ever make God stop loving me. He loved me so much that He sent His only son to die in my place so that I could be forgiven and be with Him some day. That is amazing and mind blowing but true!!God Bless everyone at Refreshing Hope Ministries!!
AMEN & AMEN ! THANK YOU DION...YOU & SYLVIA HAVE A BLESSED WEEKEND.
XO
SHARON
Amen!