Here is Pastor Karen's devotion today:
Good morning!
Jonah was given a prophetic gift. He actually heard the Word of the Lord, telling him to “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.”
But Jonah didn’t appreciate this gift from God. He didn’t want it! He tried to flee from God’s presence. The last thing he wanted to do was go to the city that he both hated and feared—and risk rejection, scorn, and physical injury by speaking God’s convicting Word to known sinners and scoffers.
Where can we go to get away from the Lord’s voice? We can try to run. We can make ourselves so busy doing other things that we find excuses why we don’t have time to do what the Lord wants us to do. We can argue with God, “I can’t do this now, Lord. I am too tired. Too busy.” Or we can tell God what He wants us to do is just too hard. We don’t know how to do it.
Our God is patient, my friends, which means that He will wait for you to do what He wants you to do. He will wait and wait. In the meantime, you will feel restless, frustrated, depressed, and more tired as you continue to come up with reasons why you can’t do what He wants you to do.
With God, nothing is impossible. If He is asking you to do something, then He will give you the power and wisdom to do it. Don’t rely on your own strength or wisdom. Trust Him to lead you on the right path.
My prayer for you—for us—is that we won’t try to fight off His call on our lives. That we will submit to His Will, even if what He asks us to do is frightening or something we really don’t want to do. My prayer is that we learn to obey quickly, without questioning the Lord’s request or trying to flee from His presence.
Don’t be like Jonah. There’s nowhere we can go where the Spirit won’t already be—waiting for us!
Let us pray.
Lord, we don’t always want to do what you want us to do. We don’t always want to reach out to everyone with the gospel. We would rather be with our friends and family members and be comfortable with our routines. Sometimes, we doubt that we can do what you call us to do. Sometimes, we are just afraid of what might happen if we obey. Will people still like us? Will we fail to do the job you have set before us? Remove our doubts and fears far from us, Lord. Build up our confidence and faith so we can do all things you require of us through Christ who strengthens us. In His name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Jonah 1:1-17a; Acts 26:24-27:8; Luke 8:40-56; and Psalm 5 and 6.
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Karen
Good morning!
Jonah was given a prophetic gift. He actually heard the Word of the Lord, telling him to “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.”
But Jonah didn’t appreciate this gift from God. He didn’t want it! He tried to flee from God’s presence. The last thing he wanted to do was go to the city that he both hated and feared—and risk rejection, scorn, and physical injury by speaking God’s convicting Word to known sinners and scoffers.
Where can we go to get away from the Lord’s voice? We can try to run. We can make ourselves so busy doing other things that we find excuses why we don’t have time to do what the Lord wants us to do. We can argue with God, “I can’t do this now, Lord. I am too tired. Too busy.” Or we can tell God what He wants us to do is just too hard. We don’t know how to do it.
Our God is patient, my friends, which means that He will wait for you to do what He wants you to do. He will wait and wait. In the meantime, you will feel restless, frustrated, depressed, and more tired as you continue to come up with reasons why you can’t do what He wants you to do.
With God, nothing is impossible. If He is asking you to do something, then He will give you the power and wisdom to do it. Don’t rely on your own strength or wisdom. Trust Him to lead you on the right path.
My prayer for you—for us—is that we won’t try to fight off His call on our lives. That we will submit to His Will, even if what He asks us to do is frightening or something we really don’t want to do. My prayer is that we learn to obey quickly, without questioning the Lord’s request or trying to flee from His presence.
Don’t be like Jonah. There’s nowhere we can go where the Spirit won’t already be—waiting for us!
Let us pray.
Lord, we don’t always want to do what you want us to do. We don’t always want to reach out to everyone with the gospel. We would rather be with our friends and family members and be comfortable with our routines. Sometimes, we doubt that we can do what you call us to do. Sometimes, we are just afraid of what might happen if we obey. Will people still like us? Will we fail to do the job you have set before us? Remove our doubts and fears far from us, Lord. Build up our confidence and faith so we can do all things you require of us through Christ who strengthens us. In His name we pray. Amen.
Today’s readings are Jonah 1:1-17a; Acts 26:24-27:8; Luke 8:40-56; and Psalm 5 and 6.
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Karen
Comments
Post a Comment