In reference to the story of Jonah, we need to be ready for the word of the Lord. In this New Year, God is calling us to do many things. Chapter 1 of Jonah tells us that Jonah was commanded by the Lord to go into the city of Nineveh and preach against the wickedness of its people, but instead, he wanted to go to Tarshish to flee from the presence of God. We do not want to be like Jonah. Sometimes we may not understand why we are being called by God to do a particular thing, but we must know that it is all about our being obedient to His will. There were many excuses as to why Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh to be a witness for God. One excuse was that he looked at the ways of the people and not the ways of God. Jonah also looked at the people of Nineveh as a people who did not fear God and that angered him. God appointed Jonah for the task because He knew that Jonah was strong and a prophet. Jonah ran from the will of God. God's purpose and plan for the people of Nineveh was that they be set free and be delivered from their wickedness. Sometimes, we see situations of people not fearing God, but God still love those who do not fear Him. God has a purpose and a plan for all of us. Due to Jonah’s disobedience, he had to spend three days and three nights in the belly of a whale which made him realize that it was important for him to go preach in Nineveh.
This year is going to be a year of stretching our faith and stretching our obedience to the will of God. He is looking for those who want to exit their spiritual comfort zones, who want to extend and expand themselves spiritually, and who want to cross spiritual boundary lines. God is looking for a true warrior. So be ready when you are awaken by God in the middle of the night to give you an assignment to go places you have not been, to speak to people you have not spoken to, to pray for someone you do not know, to give to someone you have not given to, to listen to someone you have not seen, to mourn with a family you don't know, or to love someone you have not loved. Know that this is all a word from the Lord. God has a bigger purpose and a plan for the task He gives us, even those tasks we cannot see.
Until next time be ready for the "Word of the “Lord"
Monica
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