A storm, a great fish, some sackcloth, and a hungry worm: The story of Jonah (Part 2)

For the month of August we are looking at the book of Jonah. Today we will study Jonah 2.

from fcnewburgh.com

Read: Jonah 2

Last we left Jonah, he survived the storm but is now trapped inside a smelly fish belly. As much as he would rather have died than obey God, God had other plans.

from mdchurch.us

Chapter 2 is the prayer that Jonah prayed when he realized he couldn’t ditch God. It’s not a perfect prayer. (Once you know the whole story of Jonah, you’ll see why.) But God doesn’t mind our imperfect prayers. In fact, He asks for them.

Jonah starts by summarizing his day. “There was a pretty big storm. I’m guessing that was from You, God. I ended up drowning. That sucked pretty bad. I thought for sure You were sending me away forever. But now I realize You were actually saving me. Thank you, I guess.”

Philip Yancey in his book, Prayer, talks about how prayer is really just keeping company with God. We keep company with God by talking with Him. We share with Him all of ourselves – our hopes, our dreams, our thanks, our requests, our complaints, everything. Then in turn, we find out more of who He is and what His plans are for us and for those around us.

Jonah’s prayer reveals everything about his day and shows what he’s learning about God. The prayer concludes with the great fish vomiting Jonah onto dry land. For most people, being fish vomit might be a low. But for Jonah, it’s a second chance to learn God’s will. And not only to learn God’s will, but to learn more about the very heart of God.

Third lesson of Jonah: Keep company with God.

Fourth lesson of Jonah: He promises to hear you…and you may even learn a few things along the way.

Dear God, I seem to pray best when I am at my lowest. Help me keep company with you every day, not just when things are rough. Teach me Your ways and Your heart, oh God of my salvation. Amen.

Further readings: Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 145:18-19

 

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A storm, a great fish, some sackcloth, and a hungry worm: The story of Jonah (Part 1)

Hello again! I was on vacation for two weeks and have missed our Monday mornings together. It’s good to be back.

For the month of August we will study Jonah. The book of Jonah contains four chapters, so we will study a chapter a week. This week we will start with Jonah 1.

from fcnewburgh.com

Read: Jonah 1

Even when you try to ditch God, His purpose is still accomplished. That should make you feel either relieved or scared to death.

Jonah is the only prophet to try and ditch God. He ends up accomplishing God’s task for him (sort of). But he really only accomplishes it by the pure grace of God Himself. He’s a perfect hero for the likes of us.

I love this story because first of all, God doesn’t allow himself to be ditched. The storm and the great fish make that very clear. And second of all, God turns Jonah’s humiliating situation into a witness for God’s glory.

The mariners that were taking Jonah across the sea were not believers. When the storm arose and they saw the ship was about to break into pieces, they each cried out to their own gods. That only made the storm worse. Finally, they realized Jonah was to blame. But even then, they didn’t want to hurt him.

But Jonah convinced them to begrudgingly throw him into the sea. The moment Jonah hit the water, the raging storm ceased. And those terrified mariners feared the Lord, offered sacrifices to Him, and committed themselves to God.

First lesson of Jonah: You cannot hide from God.

Second lesson of Jonah: God accomplishes His purposes with or without you…and sometimes He drags you along kicking and screaming.

Dear God, I know You can accomplish Your will without me, but I want to be a willing part of Your plans, both for me and for those around me. Help me to resist the urge to ditch You when I am afraid. Give me the strength to follow You even when the task is hard. Amen.

Further readings: Psalm 65:5-8; Luke 19:37-40; Isaiah 46:8-11; Isaiah 55:11

 

 

 

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It Is Well

Reading for today: Matthew 8:23-27

Jesus Calms the Storm by Laura James

One of the most difficult times for my family was the recent death of my mother-in-law, Cheryl. She died just a few years ago of a progressive cancer called multiple myeloma. The time between a proper diagnosis of her disease and her final breath was about 56 days.

Raging winds, crashing waves, and a swamped boat. Cheryl’s struggle with cancer was a massive storm for our family.

When you or your loved ones are in the middle of a powerful storm, that storm will begin to make you feel as though God is no longer in control, even if you are a seasoned Christian.

In our reading for today, the disciples knew firsthand, as seasoned fishermen, the destructive power of a great storm. Their fear tells us how bad the storm they faced really was.

Yet, even more powerful than the storm, was the voice of Jesus as he stood and rebuked the wind and the waves. The moment he spoke, the storm disappeared and was replaced by a “great calm” (v.26).

While it may not always seem as though God is in control, always remember and be comforted that the winds and the waves must obey Him.

Although God did not stop the storm inside Cheryl’s body, God calls me to trust in His sovereignty and in His timing. He calls me to faith and He reminds me that I have nothing to fear because He is in control.

Dear God, the storm I face right now is ___________________. Please speak truth into my life. If it is Your will, please rebuke this storm. If it is not Your will, give me the faith to trust in Your sovereignty and take away my fear. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

During that agonizing and confusing time of Cheryl’s death, our church music team in St. Louis performed a song one Sunday morning entitled “It Is Well” (Bethel Music). One particular line of the song is: “So let it go my soul and trust in Him. The waves and wind still know His name.” God used this song to speak His comfort into my soul. Click on the link below to use this song as a prayer.

Bethel Music “It Is Well”

This week we will read one more account of Jesus literally calming a storm. We will also read through a few comforting Psalms.

Day 2 – Mark 6:45-51

Day 3 – Psalm 46

Day 4 – Psalm 89:8-9

Day 5 – Psalm 62

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a heart after You: week 5 (final week)

Reading for today: Psalm 139

David was a man after God’s own heart. For the last few weeks, we have been looking at the stories of David to figure out what it means to have a heart after God.

It doesn’t mean that we are better than the average guy. It doesn’t mean that we have it all figured out. It doesn’t mean that we’ll always do the right thing. And if we screw up, it definitely doesn’t mean that we’ve lost our chance.

You see, having a heart after God’s own heart is simply seeking Him above all else. And when you seek God, He will be found and He will change your heart.

So that when you are facing giants, you hold onto Him. When you are in the middle of an I-don’t-know-what-to-do situation, you beg Him for guidance. When you are in the wrong, you listen to Him and you adjust back to His will. When you recognize His blessings, you dance for joy.

And if you break His heart by turning completely away from His will, His Spirit will allow your heart to break as well. He will humble you, and you will ask for forgiveness, which He will graciously give. And then you will understand what is at the heart of God – His mercy, His forgiveness, and His unbelievable love.

Dear God, Please give me a heart like yours. Teach me Your mercy, Your forgiveness and Your amazing love. Amen.

This week begins the season of Lent, what better way to learn of God’s heart than to study and meditate on the mercy, forgiveness, and love that God showed through His Son, Jesus.

This week, as we prepare, we will read through some of the Psalms of David.

Day 2 – Psalm 25:4-10

Day 3 – Psalm 37:3-6; 23-24

Day 4 – Psalm 86:1-12

Day 5 – Psalm 103:1-13

 

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a heart after You: week 3

Reading for today: Psalm 86:11-13

 

Abigail kneels before David by James Tissot

Hot-headed David grabbed his sword and called his 400 men to do the same. Without consulting God, David planned to bring down judgment on his worthless neighbor, Nabal. In the eyes of the world, he had every right to teach Nabal a lesson, but it was not the right that God had given him.

Thank God for Nabal’s discerning wife, Abigail. Her quick-headed thinking not only stopped David and his army from decimating her entire household, but she also saved David from bloodguilt.

Sometimes we stand at the intersection of God’s desires and our own. If we are so blessed to have someone intervene on our behalf, pay attention. Stop what you are doing, and thank God for his unsolicited guidance.

*Hint: As you chase after God’s heart, know that He is already chasing after yours.

Dear God, Thank you for putting people in my life who show me Your heart. Amen.

This week, let’s read David and Abigail’s full story.

Day 2 – I Samuel 25:1-13

Day 3 – I Samuel 25:14-31

Day 4 – I Samuel 25:32-42

Day 5 – Psalm 15

 

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“Hey! You Denied My Miracle”: 3 Studies on God’s Timing – Part 3

Reading for today: Luke 22:39-53

How many times have you asked God for a miracle? And how many times have you been denied? In our first two studies, Jairus and Lazarus’ sisters all asked for a miracle and got it. They struggled with God’s timing, but in the end, they all received a miracle, even better than they had expected.

What about when you, in faith, ask for a miracle but you don’t get it. What about when God chooses to deny your request? God answers your patient waiting, not with a “yes”, or a “maybe”, or a “later”, but with a cold, unexplainable “no”. When God says no and His timing seems to work against you, you have all the ingredients for despair.

So what better way to end a series on God’s timing, then with an example of Jesus’ own denied request. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus begged God to take away the coming cross and his death. And the answer he received was an unmistakable “no”.

Jesus denied? Up until this point, Jesus hadn’t been denied anything. He had asked for healing and got it. He had asked for understanding and received it. He had asked for miracles, and they came. He asked for the Spirit, and the Spirit was granted. But then one of his last requests was denied. Why? Because God’s timing for our salvation was right on track and Jesus’ request would have derailed God’s plan for us.

In his heart, Jesus knew this, so attached to his desperate prayer were 7 of the most important words ever uttered. “Not my will, but yours be done.” And thank God, that prayer was answered.

When you grapple with God’s timing in your life or in the lives of those around you, know that, like Jesus, you can ask God for wisdom, for clarity, for answers, and for a miracle. But also pray those 7 important words from Jesus, “Not my will, but yours be done.” It may not feel good, but God’s will being done is always best. Trust Him.

Dear God, Right now, I am asking for ___________________________. Not my will, but Yours be done. Amen.

Day 2 – Romans 5:6; Galatians 4:4-7

Day 3 – 2 Peter 3:8-9; James 1:5

Day 4 – Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 29:11-14

Day 5 – Matthew 6:9-13

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Steps to contentment: Step 4 – Center

Welcome to week 4 in our study on contentment. Contentment in the biblical sense is peace with God and satisfaction in the circumstances where God has placed you.

Read Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17; 3:1-24 and Matthew 26:36-42

There were two gardens. In the first garden, everything was perfect. God had planted the garden. The plants were lush and filled with fruit. In the center of the garden grew the tree of life. A couple lived there. They trusted God and were content and satisfied, having everything they needed.

The second garden, on the other hand, was dark and dangerous. Although familiar, it was not a happy place that night. In the center of this garden a distressed man lay praying fervently for help to the God he, too, trusted. This isn’t what I want to do. This doesn’t feel good to me. I am not happy about this. Please, please take it away, Lord. He had found himself in that garden because he had come to restore the tree of life that had been lost to the couple in the first garden.

You see, they had stepped out of the master Gardner’s will. And as a horrible consequence, their rebellion brought sin, death, and sadness into a once perfect garden. Ever since that fateful day, we have been chasing down the peace and contentment that was lost.

But God did not abandon that first couple or us. He promised a Savior. One who would become for us the new tree of life.

In the midst of this unhappy, imperfect garden, a sorrowful Jesus taught us one of the most important steps in our path toward contentment. He finished his earnest prayer by saying, Not my will, but Yours be done. Jesus stood in that dark, scary garden and centered himself on God’s will. He completely trusted God. Even though it meant taking on all the sin, all the death, and all the sadness of this world.

Contentment has never really been about our happiness, our comfortableness, or our desires being fulfilled. Contentment is simply about being in the center of God’s will.

The only time we should feel discontent, is when we are in a situation that is pulling us away from God’s will. And in those dark moments, cry out to God, like Jesus did in the garden. And then remember that Jesus is for us the new tree of life at the very center of God’s garden. Center your garden on Him.

Step 4 in the pursuit of contentment: Center your garden on God’s will.

Dear Lord, Let Your will be done always and bring me into the center of Your will. Make me content. Amen.

This week, let’s read about what it looks like to center yourself on God’s will.

Day 2 – 1 John 2:16-17; Matthew 6:10

Day 3 – Proverbs 3:5-6; James 1:5

Day 4 – John 10:7-11; Hebrews 13:20-21

Day 5 –  1 Timothy 2:4-6; Proverbs 13:12; Revelation 22:14

Next week we will conclude our study on contentment by talking about the harvest!

 

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