Prayer: Father, what have you prepared for me? May I not need anything like what You prepared for Jonah to get me to where You want me to be. Amen.
Reading: Jonah 2 key: vs. 1-3 “Now Adonai prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to Adonai his God from the belly of the fish, saying: “From my distress I cried to Adonai and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I cried for help and you heard my voice.” TLV
Attention: I do not know about you, but God has ways of getting our individual attention. For Jonah, He “prepared” a great fish. That is a specialized method of getting Jonah’s attention. Jonah not only said no, but he also proceeded to flee from the presence of the Lord. I shared yesterday about how insane it is to for us or Jonah or Adam and Eve; to think we can run from God’s presence.
Has God told you to do something, to which you have said, “no.” What has it cost you? Have you been miserable and not at peace every time God brings it up? Has it robbed you of peace? Has it cost you your health? Have you lost relationships or employment? Have you lost your home? Have you lost your kids? There is a cost. For Jonah, he went, but it cost him emotional health. He wanted to die rather than rejoice with his enemy. He was in despair over God’s mercy and grace. He was distraught over God forgiving a repentant enemy. The preacher did not get it and did not accept the character of God.
Have you ever met someone who wanted forgiveness but could not give it? Yeshua gave us the answer through Matthew when He said, “For if you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions (Matthew 6:14-15).” Where are these words located? Right after the prayer which Jesus uttered in teaching His disciples how to pray.
Do you forgive easily? Or do you wrestle with God about your enemy’s redemption. Here is what the apostle John recorded, “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen (1st John 4:20).”
Watch for those things which God specifically “prepares” for you, to get you to where He wants you. Preemptive obedience will spare you from God’s persuasiveness.
Action: I choose to avoid the things which God has prepared for me to get me where He wants me to be, by being obedient.
Yield: I yield to the desires of Adonai for my life.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit guidance for my life.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimate, holy relationship with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, may I never need the persuasion of what You have prepared for me to get me to where You want me to be. Amen.
Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship—created in Messiah Yeshua for good deeds, which God prepared beforehand so we might walk in them.”
Music Video: Pastor Loran—Ready For You https://youtu.be/m0TxoHs1rS4?si=6TMwHrIEae1mJ3jM
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today.”