sunset over road in green fields
March 15 – Faith purifies our hearts
Jonah 1: The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
Jonah doesn’t do what God wants him to do and sails away in a different direction. A wild storm hits the seas and Jonah confesses he believes it was because of him, so they throw Jonah into the sea to stop it. It is written that God prepared the stomach of a whale, perhaps supernaturally for the swallow! Finally, that whale swallows him!!! After three days, the whale vomits him out. Jonah sobered, humbled and worshiped God and does what God wants him to do. The time in the deep dark desperate time in the whale changed his perspectives on life.
God may be calling us to a certain place. He speaks in different ways, but we ignore it because we are afraid. Even if it is hard, if we obey the call on our lives, we would go through less pain. Jonah not only went through the trial of a storm but the horrors of living three days in in the stomach of a whale.
But you know what? That trial under pressure made him transform to a sparkling diamond. When he was vomited out, he went to Nineveh, and told them the message of God under the heavy anointing of the Spirit and the entire country believed, repented of their wicked ways and transformed! They knew they were doing wrong and easily received the message. If a nation is steeped in dark evil, the conscience of many will start to hurt them, they are actually more ready to listen to someone who tells them a message of deliverance. But that one person has to have courage!
When God calls us, He will anoint us, He will equip us. After that great victory, however, Jonah suddenly perceived things in the flesh, and reduced himself to muddy clay. He suddenly got upset with God that judgement did not fall on Nineveh as he prophesied, but the people repented and transformed. He missed the great miracle. God sent revival, but Jonah missed it!
Very often, after a great spiritual victory, there is a big spiritual attack and negative forces may also come against us. This is why we need prayer at all times. Guard your hearts, keep in prayer, wear the heavenly armor and keep up in communion with God who will pour fresh oil and blaze fresh fire in your soul. Faith purifies our hearts, fear shrinks and shrivels our hearts.
Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
Be faithful to the Call of your life, and you will receive the Crown of Life. Keep yourself encouraged dear sister and brothers and keep up the good work and never get weary in well doing. Your reward is near.
Rita
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