The Way that Seems Right-Check Your Soul
October 31
James MacDonald's devotional today on OurJourneyOnline@WalkintheWord.com fits right in with the study on Jonah. He references these verses for consideration when we are in the decision making process.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 16:25
If you don't believe this watch today's Godtube and the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=9291JMNU
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Proverbs 4:26
When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9
The story of Jonah closes out rather realistically. But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry...'Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life'....
Jonah 4:1,3 I appreciate his honesty. Recapping the scenario: Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh, because of the evil these people had reeked on others. In the belly of the fish, he realized the importance of obedience and he also knew the character of God. God is merciful and he didn't want to see Nineveh...the enemy...receive mercy, so he went hoping to see them get what he felt they deserved.
He prayed to the Lord and said, 'Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.'
Jonah had just tasted of the lovingkindness and slowness to anger quality of God after being tossed into the sea, but deep in his heart, he wanted God to "make things right" and destroy Nineveh. We are no different from Jonah. We want God to even the playing field of life and make things right!
True confessions here. More than once, in my life as the wife of a coach, I found myself saying to God, "Certainly you are not going to let them win after that cheap shot they took on our player?"
When something unfortunate happens to someone who has wronged us do we feel rather satisfied, justified or do we offer aide?
Shirer writes: "Are we willing to extend grace to others as God has extended it to us? Do a quick self-inventory and consider this: When God graciously takes care of our needs, shows up in our discomfort, or calms our anxieties, our first inclination should be to offer an extension of those same healing properties to someone else. His grace to us should make us more gracious to others.....He (God) is able and willing to soften your heart to match His desires. Ask Him to cause you to line up with His purposes-not just in action but in the deep recesses of your souls as well."
Let's sing...He's still working on me...to make me what I ought to be......SMILE
James MacDonald's devotional today on OurJourneyOnline@WalkintheWord.com fits right in with the study on Jonah. He references these verses for consideration when we are in the decision making process.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 16:25
If you don't believe this watch today's Godtube and the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=9291JMNU
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. Proverbs 3:7
Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Proverbs 4:26
When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7
The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9
The story of Jonah closes out rather realistically. But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry...'Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life'....
Jonah 4:1,3 I appreciate his honesty. Recapping the scenario: Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh, because of the evil these people had reeked on others. In the belly of the fish, he realized the importance of obedience and he also knew the character of God. God is merciful and he didn't want to see Nineveh...the enemy...receive mercy, so he went hoping to see them get what he felt they deserved.
He prayed to the Lord and said, 'Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.'
Jonah had just tasted of the lovingkindness and slowness to anger quality of God after being tossed into the sea, but deep in his heart, he wanted God to "make things right" and destroy Nineveh. We are no different from Jonah. We want God to even the playing field of life and make things right!
True confessions here. More than once, in my life as the wife of a coach, I found myself saying to God, "Certainly you are not going to let them win after that cheap shot they took on our player?"
When something unfortunate happens to someone who has wronged us do we feel rather satisfied, justified or do we offer aide?
Shirer writes: "Are we willing to extend grace to others as God has extended it to us? Do a quick self-inventory and consider this: When God graciously takes care of our needs, shows up in our discomfort, or calms our anxieties, our first inclination should be to offer an extension of those same healing properties to someone else. His grace to us should make us more gracious to others.....He (God) is able and willing to soften your heart to match His desires. Ask Him to cause you to line up with His purposes-not just in action but in the deep recesses of your souls as well."
Let's sing...He's still working on me...to make me what I ought to be......SMILE
