Step into God

Have you ever taken a wrong step? Maybe in a puddle, gum, a ditch, slipped on ice? I think most of us have taken a step into something that we regret. Things happen and sometimes we step into thing that damage us and slow us down. I recall today in my devotion time the story of Jonah. Now we all know the story of Jonah and the Whale(fish). As I reflected on Jonah's choices, to run or be obedient, I must say I had to stop and do some personal reflection as well.

Jonah was a person, just like you an me. 

Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.

(Jonah 1:1-3 ESV)

Jonah had a choice. Just like you and me. He clearly heard God telling him to do something, and freaked out! Sometimes, the things we do not do, are just as critical as the things we do. Jonah had decided that he did not want to do what God told him to do so he ran. He chose to step onto the boat, and NOT into God's plan. Many problems came from Jonah's decision but that does not stop God from doing what He does best. Protect and Secure!


Unfortunately, there will always be consequences for our actions. Jonah fled a plan God wanted him to fulfill and in this disobedience we see God's re-directive power. God's compassion in this story stems from His pure heart for His people. AS you read Jonah, you will see many things happened because of the actions of single man. It is amazing that God is always in control? Even when the storms come we are still protected. If you look deeper in the heart of God and the story of the story of Jonah we see not only, security in disobedience, we see redirection after a heart of compassion.

Have you ever taken steps onto something to escape. Maybe you are like Jonah, or you moved, fled a situation, backed down from confrontation, or hid because you knew you were wrong? I know i have done all of these things. Its our weakness to trust God that really disables us. Fear creeps in! Lies begin to grow and become louder! Jonah, told those on his boat, that He feared the lord. This fear is different than what Paul discusses and actually refers to being afraid of God. Similar to how things frighten us! Jonah, was tossed over the very boat he climbed onto to escape and God had so much compassion on him, that he still kept him safe.

 And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

(Jonah 1:17 ESV)

Moments like that for me are never easy. Its like keeping a secret, it eventually will eat at you from the inside. Jonah's response to a sovereign and compassionate God truly is remarkable. Knowing he failed and fled, he cries out to God,

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress,

and he answered me;

out of the belly of Sheol I cried,

and you heard my voice.

For you cast me into the deep,

into the heart of the seas,

and the flood surrounded me;

all your waves and your billows

passed over me.

Then I said, ‘I am driven away

from your sight;

yet I shall again look

upon your holy temple.’

The waters closed in over me to take my life;

the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped about my head

at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land

whose bars closed upon me forever;

yet you brought up my life from the pit,

O LORD my God.

When my life was fainting away,

I remembered the LORD,

and my prayer came to you,

into your holy temple.

Those who pay regard to vain idols

forsake their hope of steadfast love.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving

will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the LORD!”

And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

(Jonah 2 ESV)

Jonah is then led by God, and his own desire to be obedient to Ninevah, to express concern to God's people. I want to remind you all today, as the Lord has reminded me, God never gives up! God never leaves us. I find it fascinating that as Jonah flees, God pursues him still. It is an awesome thing to see, that God's compassion for Jonah, and for the people of Ninevah could not go unnoticed. 

Now I am sure you are wondering about the whole step thing! Well, today my life is reflective of the steps i take, as well as yours is defined by your steps. Steps onto something that we desires, or steps into Gods plan for our lives. Today, I am sure we will all take steps in one direction or the other. How comforting is it, in knowing that even if we take the wrong ones, through fear, selfishness, or just uncertainty, that God will still be working to get us back on track with us stepping to His plan. Our steps are very significant. As Jonah stepped away from God's plan for him, It took not only God to protect him, but ultimately Jonah's surrender to what God wanted of him.

Deep down inside each of us, there is a driving desire pushing us where to go and what to do. A child stealing cookies, a teen staying out too late, a college student partying all night, or even an adult committing adultery are all steps or choices people make. God knows our steps and will do whatever it takes to bring us back into his plan. For us today, it may not be about knowing what His plan or purpose is for us, but to "STEP INTO" only his desires, and not into something that will lead us away from Him. 

 

Sometimes the steps we take WILL leave imprints forever. What do your steps say about you and the direction your going?

Peace in the Storms of Life

Psalm 4:8

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁸ 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Wow, What a God we have! One that is willing to do all the hard work for us! Even before the Son of God(Jesus) was hung on the cross for you and I, He had already done amazing things. Ever in need of God to just come in and make everything just go away. As you continue to read, I am convinced that we all struggle with this, YET even in our weakness, I can assure you God does not and will not abandon you! 

When is that last time you felt like you were up against the wall. Everything you seemed to be doing was wrong or failed, and you could never seem to overcome life itself. Whether it was work, a friendship, a project, or even a feeling of regret, depression, or anger, it consumed you. I know we have all been there! I myself have had the internal battles of hurt, regret, guilt, shame, confusion, anger, and anxiety take over my life and just bring me down to my knees. Nothing seems to go right and when you think it is over, something else happens. You get tired of fighting, trying, exerting any energy or whatever you have left, and failing. A sin that you cannot shake! A thought you cannot break! A choice your regretting you make! It all seems pointless and troublesome.  The mountains are too big, the issues keep coming back up, and you can not seem to win. You have lost! You give up! 

Have you been there? I think it is fair to say we all have. So what do we do? Try harder? Keep your head up? Push through? I am sure we all have heard something like this, and I am just as guilty in saying it to others in an effort to help. Reality sinks in when you do those things and nothing helps. Something the Lord has been teaching me, is that it cannot come from my own strength. When I do it alone, most of the time i fail. I would venture to say the same thing for you!

So then what? Over the last week God has shown me more and more that when these storms come up against us, or we get ourselves into a difficult, anxious, ugly mess, that everything will be ok! Think of is this way, if Jesus was willing to go to the ends of the Earth for you and I, how much more would He be willing to come into your situation now, and provide for you. In those times do you want an answer? Do you want him to show you a miracle? Do you want the victory? I tell you this today, in hope that you will reflect in your own time and evaluate it for yourself, but was the cross not enough? 

Whether it be, sin, shame, guilt, hurt, bitterness, stress, anger, anxiety, depression, a hard week, a trial... God wants to be allowed into your circumstances. I know our storms seem to be way bigger than anything we could ever overcome. In Mark, we find the disciples in a similar situation as im sure we all have been before. The storms are too much, God is with us and yet we do not feel him. We doubt that He can be bigger than our external or internal storms and we doubt him. Listen to Jesus' response to those who are so close to Him, even they are doubting.

Mark 4:37-41

New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”^[a] 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

So you see, even in chaos, Christ still calms the storm. Lets not lose hope, heart, or Peace in our lives, because of the surrounding winds and waves are too big. If he calmed the storms then, i promise He will calm the storms now. May our faith arise, stand in awe of the cross, and receive the peace that Christ came to bring us, so we can always look forward, not back!

Romans 15:13 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.