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Authors: John Osteen
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heart.”
Between Monday and Saturday, we will praise God and rest in Him. Praise is faith at work!
O FFER A S ACRIFICE OF T HANKSGIVING AND P RAISE
Consider the story of Jonah: “Now the word of the L ORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the L ORD ” (Jonah 1:1–3). Instead of obeying God, Jonah ran the other way.
Have you ever run away from God? Jonah didn’t get far, and neither will you. If you read his story, you know that Jonah ended up being thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. He found himself on the inside of that fish, in the slime and gastric juices and Have you ever run away from God? Jonah didn’t get far, and neither will you. If you read his story, you know that Jonah ended up being thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. He found himself on the inside of that fish, in the slime and gastric juices andwith seaweed wrapped around his head. I’m sure he was certain he would die.
Yet, in the midst of all that, Jonah found deliverance. “Then Jonah prayed to the L ORD his God from the fish’s belly” (Jonah 2:1). Did you know that you can pray in a fish’s belly? If he could pray inside of a fish, you can certainly pray in the midst of your trouble!
Jonah prayed to the Lord out of the fish’s belly: “I cried out to the L ORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O L ORD , my God” (Jonah 2:2–6).
Notice that Jonah then recalled, “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the L ORD ” (Jonah 2:7). If you can just get your eyes on the Eternal, Almighty God who created heaven and earth, there is hope for you.
Remember God when your son has gone astray oryour daughter has fallen by the wayside. Remember God when your business has failed. Remember God when the doctor says you can’t live. Remember God when the situation looks dark. Jonah said, “I remembered the Lord.”
Then consider Jonah 2:9. “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving.” What did Jonah do between Monday and Saturday while sitting in that fish? He offered the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise.
Are you sitting in the belly of a fish today? Does it feel as though Saturday will never come? Are you to cry, beg, and doubt God? Or are you to sit there and say, “Mr. Fish, you may look like you’ve swallowed me forever, but I have remembered the Eternal God. I have His Word. Salvation is of the Lord. I know that He will get me out of this situation. I see myself out of it. I will offer the Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. I praise You, Lord, that I am coming out of this terrible situation.”
No matter how difficult the situation, thanksgiving and praise touch the heart of God. All God has to do is speak to your fish, and the fish will instantly spit you out. In Jonah’s case, he came out on dry ground, running and preaching!
If Jonah could praise God in the midst of a fish, can’t you praise God in the midst of a physical discomfort?Can’t you praise God in spite of seeing fish every place? Can you look up into the face of God and just praise Him with joy because you already see your child serving God, your home filled with peace and love, and the situation in your business already resolved?
Praise is the secret to a man of faith developing an
Between Monday and Saturday, we will praise God and rest in Him. Praise is faith at work!
O FFER A S ACRIFICE OF T HANKSGIVING AND P RAISE
Consider the story of Jonah: “Now the word of the L ORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’ But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the L ORD ” (Jonah 1:1–3). Instead of obeying God, Jonah ran the other way.
Have you ever run away from God? Jonah didn’t get far, and neither will you. If you read his story, you know that Jonah ended up being thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. He found himself on the inside of that fish, in the slime and gastric juices and Have you ever run away from God? Jonah didn’t get far, and neither will you. If you read his story, you know that Jonah ended up being thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish. He found himself on the inside of that fish, in the slime and gastric juices andwith seaweed wrapped around his head. I’m sure he was certain he would die.
Yet, in the midst of all that, Jonah found deliverance. “Then Jonah prayed to the L ORD his God from the fish’s belly” (Jonah 2:1). Did you know that you can pray in a fish’s belly? If he could pray inside of a fish, you can certainly pray in the midst of your trouble!
Jonah prayed to the Lord out of the fish’s belly: “I cried out to the L ORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. Then I said, ‘I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O L ORD , my God” (Jonah 2:2–6).
Notice that Jonah then recalled, “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the L ORD ” (Jonah 2:7). If you can just get your eyes on the Eternal, Almighty God who created heaven and earth, there is hope for you.
Remember God when your son has gone astray oryour daughter has fallen by the wayside. Remember God when your business has failed. Remember God when the doctor says you can’t live. Remember God when the situation looks dark. Jonah said, “I remembered the Lord.”
Then consider Jonah 2:9. “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving.” What did Jonah do between Monday and Saturday while sitting in that fish? He offered the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise.
Are you sitting in the belly of a fish today? Does it feel as though Saturday will never come? Are you to cry, beg, and doubt God? Or are you to sit there and say, “Mr. Fish, you may look like you’ve swallowed me forever, but I have remembered the Eternal God. I have His Word. Salvation is of the Lord. I know that He will get me out of this situation. I see myself out of it. I will offer the Lord the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise. I praise You, Lord, that I am coming out of this terrible situation.”
No matter how difficult the situation, thanksgiving and praise touch the heart of God. All God has to do is speak to your fish, and the fish will instantly spit you out. In Jonah’s case, he came out on dry ground, running and preaching!
If Jonah could praise God in the midst of a fish, can’t you praise God in the midst of a physical discomfort?Can’t you praise God in spite of seeing fish every place? Can you look up into the face of God and just praise Him with joy because you already see your child serving God, your home filled with peace and love, and the situation in your business already resolved?
Praise is the secret to a man of faith developing an
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