Daily Insight: God’s Heart is Love

Jonah 4:10-11 “But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

God’s heart breaks with love for those who have chosen a path of self-destruction.  His invitation to be with Him connects us to His love and mercy and restores our joy as we watch Him work.

Eternal Father, Your heart is filled with love for me and for every other person who has chosen a path of self-destruction.  Forgive me Lord for being overly focused on my own ‘issues’ and neglecting Your mission.  Rescue me from self-desctruction and deliver me into Your hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: Learning about God and Ourselves

Jonah 4:9 “But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” “I do,” he said. “I am angry enough to die.”

God never accuses us, but He does lead us to a place where we can be restored. Even in times when our shortcomings are glaringly obvious to Him and others, God never leaves us to fend for ourselves.

Loving Father, You know me – when I sit, when I walk and when I fall.  Because of Your amazing love You long for me to find hope in You and with You in Your mission. Cover me with Your love and forgive me of my faults. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jonah Part 3 – Eric Watt

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Daily Insight: God Loves Even when We do not

Jonah 4:7-8 “But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

God knows us at the core of our being. There is nothing that we can hide from Him.  Out of His great love for us God gently and consistently removes obstacles that keep us from joining Him on His great mission of redemption.

Gracious Father, You are good.  You know when my heart recoils from Your love and choose a self-destructive path.  I ask today that You would remove obstacles from my path so that I can fully love You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: God Cares

Jonah 4:6 “Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.”

God cares for us in every moment of our lives.  His nature is to provide comfort and care in the hopes that the lavishing of His goodness will lead us back to Him. (Romans 2:4)

Loving and Caring Father,  How gracious You are to me each and every day. You see when I am filled with hope and when the cares of this world drown out my joy.  Today I turn to You as the one who begins and sustains all the good that comes my way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: God is the Judge

Jonah 4:5 “Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.”

God is faithful to complete what He begins.  Since He can be depended on in every situation our joy and fulfillment comes in participating with Him in His work – not sitting as a judge on the sidelines.

Eternal Father, You alone are the judge of good and evil and You desire that all people find true hope and purpose by living life for You.  Forgive me for pretending that I am the judge of others, for stepping back and watching rather than joining in Your great work.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: Meeting God on His Terms

Jonah 4:1-4 “But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” But the LORD replied, “Have you any right to be angry?”

God’s eternal mission is to bring those who are lost back to Him.  He is always and only about loving others.  Following after God means joining His mission and not having God follow yours.

Lord, forgive me for thinking that You have restored me to pursue my own path. Your destiny for me is far greater than the small plans that I have made for myself.  Take the discontentment out of my heart today I as learn to experience the joy of following You and You alone.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: God is Compassionate

Jonah 3:10 “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened.”

God is holy, compassionate and consistent. His character is unchanging and is filled with love for every person that He has created.  When He sees us turn from evil and walk toward Him in righteousness, His compassionate forgiveness overflows.

Compassionate and loving Father,  I am taking responsibility today for my own actions and am turning away from judgmental self-righteous attitudes and toward Your never ending forgiveness.  Have compassion on me as I follow after You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: God Forgives

Jonah 3:9 “Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”

God desires that no one perish (2 Peter 3:9), but instead wants every person to live in intimate relationship with Him – forever. We were designed to be on mission with God and when we choose His ways, meaning comes to our lives.

Merciful Father, Your love is large enough today to cover my sin, to cleanse me and to bring me close to You.  Forgive me for holding grudges against others, for pouting about the smallness of my circumstances and for stewing in my own resentment and bitterness. Restore to my the joy that comes in You!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: The Power of Turning to God

Jonah 3:7-8 “Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.”

The word of God is filled with mercy, love and penetrates the contrite heart.  When we allow God to magnify His presence in our circumstance His love drives us to change from our evil ways to a lifestyle of honoring worship.

Loving Father, Today I will meditate on the richness of Your goodness and will seek You at every turn.  I choose to leave the evil ways of my past and I will change the focus of my attention away from self-destructive thoughts and toward Your lovingkindness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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