The word came to me for the blog while my sister and I conversed. We can get comfortable in the state that we are in because it is familiar and easy for us. God will allow things to happen in our lives that if we don’t change, the circumstances will cause us to change. It could be something God told you to do, but you are putting it off. It could be a bad habit or addiction in which you don’t see a way out. Things go from bad to worse. You will see no way out without God. You have to change your behavior or sink into your state.
In Jonah Chapter 1:2-3, God told Jonah, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So 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 from the presence of the Lord.
But Jonah disobeyed God, a great wind came, and the people threw him overboard. Jonah ended up in the belly of a whale, where he prayed and cried out to God. Read the entire book of Jonah.
Jonah finally did what God told him. However, it took a storm, being thrown overboard, and being in the belly of a whale for him to do what God told him to do. A lot of us are like Jonah in some areas of our lives. We want it our way.
Psalm 81 Easy Read Version: 11 “But my people did not listen to me. Israel did not obey me.12 So I let them go their stubborn way and do whatever they wanted. 13 If my people would listen to me and live the way I want,14, I would defeat their enemies. Would punish those who cause them trouble.15 Those who hate the Lord would shake with fear. They would be punished forever. 16 I would give the best wheat to my people. I would give them the purest honey until they were satisfied.
God will give us instructions on how to live in victory, but if we do not listen and are stubborn, He will remove his protection, leaving us to fend for ourselves. We cannot defeat the enemy on our own. We need God’s protection and grace over our lives. In order to have that, we must listen and obey his words.
I am paraphrasing Deuteronomy 30:15: God has set before us life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life which is God’s way so you can live. A lot of people say it is hard. Yes, it is hard when we want to do it our way. Proverbs 13:15 says a way of a transgressor is hard. Matthew 11:30 says God’s yoke is easy, and the burden is light. The Easy Version Hebrews 11:28-30 28 “Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest. 30 Yes, the teaching that I ask you to accept is easy. The load I give you to carry is light.”
God will allow us to be put into situations where our only choice is to sink or swim. When you obey & trust in the Lord, he will not let you drown. God will take you to higher ground, but only if you do his will, not what you want to do.
If you don’t change your life course, God will move you by force!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you because your ways are perfect. Lord, I repent for doing things my way, which has been hard. I come to you and learn your ways. Your yoke is easy, and the burden is light. I come to you, God, and eat what is good. I give you the praise and glory. In Jesus’ name! Amen.