“On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: ‘Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!’  The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.”

Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city:

‘No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all.  People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.  Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.’” v.4-5; 7-9 (NLT)

Wow, a whole nation changed by the message Jonah didn’t want to share.  From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, the nation repented of its evil ways.  That is the power that is found in the Could you imagine if this would happen in our churches today, better yet, our nation or world.  It can!

When faithful people start getting passionate about the things of God and sharing their God Heart and their life with the lost, true repentance is likely to happen.  My prayer today is that God to use me to infulence this type of repentance in the arenas of life he has placed me.

“As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.” v.7 (NLT)

Have you ever been here? Maybe you haven’t been in the belly of a fish like Jonah, but have you been in a place of uncomfort or disaster? A place that make you fearful of the outcome, or causes you to panic immediately? I know I have. It’s easy to pray and cry out to God in these situations isn’t it? We want him to rescue us and make things better. As a kid I can remember making deals with God. I would pray something like this, “God if you do this ( ) then I promise I will do ( ).” For me, sometimes the only times I prayed were when bad things happened. My youth pastor or mentor called this the “Spare Tire God” The only time you need a spare tire is when one of the other tires is flat. Sadly thats the way we treat their relationship with God. When bad things, or difficult situations come their way, then they cry out to God for help!

Jonah knew he was running from God. In this prayer in chapter 2 he is just thankful to be alive. God has already rescued Him from drowning, but now he is in the belly of a great big fish. It took this situation to get Jonah’s attention. As he prays, he is thankful and repentant.

Today, I want to be person that talks to God on a regular basis. I don’t want to just talk to him when bad things happen. How about you? Is your prayer life more like the spare tire example, or are you consistently talking to God in the good times as well as the difficult times?

“The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.’

  But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.”      v.1-3 (NLT)

Have you ever ran from a place God was leading you?  How about a conversation God was wanting you to have?  There are several reasons we tend to run in the opposite direction that God leads us.  Sometimes we try to ignore thinking that maybe He will think we didn’t hear him.  Like that is possible!

Jonah was feeling the same way!  God was calling him to preach a message that he believed with all hi heart to a people he couldn’t stand.  Ninivah was evil, and Jonah knew if he went, the city would repent and God would give them grace and mercy.  Why wouldn’t he want to go and tell them then?  Great question!  Probably for many of the same reasons we don’t tell others about the life changing gospel.  Fear, pride, prejudice, and in our case now days, business, political correctness, or doubt that God could really use us.

When God calls us to do something He also empowers us for the task/mission at hand.  We go in His power not our own.  It’s pretty rad that God could use us, to be an agent leading other to a relationship with him.

What, or Where might God be leading you?  Are you stepping out in faith and following Him?  Or, are you pretending like you didn’t hear Him, maybe even running the other way?  Whatever the case, take the step toward Gods leading and leave the details up to Him.  He is big enough to handle it!

“Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.” v.3 (NLT)

At this time Daniel was over 80 years old and one of Darius’s  top three administrators.  Daniel was working with those who did not believe in his God, but he worked more efficiently and capably than all the rest.  Thus, he attracted the attention of the pagan king and earned a place of respect.  One of the best ways to influence non-Christians employers is to work diligently and responsibly.  How well do you represent God to your employer.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“He (Nebuchadnezzar) was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.

‘You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! So God has sent this hand to write this message.’” v.21-24 (NLT)

The writing on the wall was a message to all those who defy God.  Although Belshazzar had power and wealth, his kingdom was totally corrupt, and he could not withstand the judgement of God.  God’s time of judgement comes for all people.  If you have forgotten God and slipped into a sinful way of life, turn away from your sin now before he removes any opportunities to repent.  Ask God to forgive you, and begin to live by his standards of justice.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.’” v.16-18

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to him no matter what happened!  They trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences.  If God always rescued those who were true to him, Christians would not need faith.  Their religion would be a great insurance policy, and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign up.  We should be faithful to serve God whether he intervenes on our behalf or not.  Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first.

Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible