PRAY

Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there Is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’ In this current season, I have been constantly dwelling on the sovereignty of God. He is in control. He is in charge. He holds the entire universe in His hands. Can I find rest for my soul in this? I’m reminded of the story of Jonah. Jonah 1:3 says, “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.” (emphasis added) At a point of conflict, instead of following God’s instruction, Jonah “tried” to flee from the Lord’s presence. In my head, I chuckle at this. Doesn’t Jonah know he can’t flee from the presence of God? Did he not learn from Adam and Eve when they “hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (Genesis 3:8). As I’m chuckling to myself, the Holy Spirit then convicts my own heart. Am I trying to flee from the presence of the Lord? Is the Lord asking something of me and instead of running to Him, am I running from him? As the story continues in Jonah 1:17, we know that Jonah is unable to hide from God’s presence: “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.” After those three days and nights, Jonah cries out to the Lord. I love his prayer from the belly of the fish in Jonah 2:2-9: 2 “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. 3 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. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.’ 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head 6 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. 7 When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” May we all, myself included, be reminded that God’s sovereign plan cannot and will not be thwarted (Job 42:2). Instead of trying to run away from our Father, we should be running to Him. Desiring His presence. Seeking His presence. Going to Him in prayer constantly. Asking for His will to be done. May we continually seek to make prayer a habit in our lives. Written by R. Taylor (RPC Creative Team)

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