"Now the LORD had 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 the LORD his God from the fish's belly."
Jonah 1:17-2:1
"Then" is a telling word. It is a symptom of a disease that is common to man. It is the malady of stubbornness. We wait until things get really bad before we ask for help because "I can handle it." Why didn't Jonah pray to the LORD before he ended up in the stinking intestines of a fish? He had already been through a hurricane. That should have been enough. Now alone in the darkness in the putrid, rotting stuff, he has time to wrestle with his own stubborn heart. The prodigal son had a similar experience. He had been living high on the hog, but when things got really bad and he had to slop the hogs, he "came to himself" (Luke 15:17). Who needs God when things are going well? David also experienced this. "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire" (Psalm 69:1-2). Why do we wait until we are in hot water up to our neck and are sinking? What does it take to make me cry out to God? The first hint of trouble should make me turn to Him. Maybe if I seek Him today, I can avoid some of the struggles of the pit.
Today's Thought: The wise man cries out to God before he reaches the bottom of the barrel.
Have a "crying out" day. Love you.
Jonah 1:17-2:1
"Then" is a telling word. It is a symptom of a disease that is common to man. It is the malady of stubbornness. We wait until things get really bad before we ask for help because "I can handle it." Why didn't Jonah pray to the LORD before he ended up in the stinking intestines of a fish? He had already been through a hurricane. That should have been enough. Now alone in the darkness in the putrid, rotting stuff, he has time to wrestle with his own stubborn heart. The prodigal son had a similar experience. He had been living high on the hog, but when things got really bad and he had to slop the hogs, he "came to himself" (Luke 15:17). Who needs God when things are going well? David also experienced this. "Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire" (Psalm 69:1-2). Why do we wait until we are in hot water up to our neck and are sinking? What does it take to make me cry out to God? The first hint of trouble should make me turn to Him. Maybe if I seek Him today, I can avoid some of the struggles of the pit.
Today's Thought: The wise man cries out to God before he reaches the bottom of the barrel.
Have a "crying out" day. Love you.
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