life.interrupted.

My Bible study Im doing is called

Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted

When I read the title I knew immediately

that this was the Bible study I was sup. to buy.

Its been awesome so far but tonight it

spoke to me like it hasnt yet. Crying out

to God for help and direction and SOMETHING

I prayed for a long while then got into my

study which I do every evening but hadnt

yet, now I know why. God had me wait until

NOW to hear that msg. I had to share some

of the points and truths of my reading....

"Yesterday we discovered four principles to reconciliation with God..Today we'll talk about the second one. What is the second principle? ACCEPT GOD'S DISCIPLINE."

"Jonah did not fight the correction God allowed. He learned experientially what he already knew deep down: he could not escape God. Now, he gave all of himself over to what the Lord was permitting"

"God now had what he wanted in the first place-the prophet's willingness to obey. The fish became the way to preserve Jonah for the future ministry God had for him."


"God allows reproof and correction as a sign of His love for us and His intention to use us. Divine discipline, reproof, and correction indicate that we have a relationship with Him."


"His goal is to revive so that He can realign"


"The discipline God allowed was not meant to punish Jonah; it was meant to prepare him. Accepting and surrendering to divine discipline was in Jonah's best interest."

"Lasting change can only take
place if the heart is engaged."

Behavioral change - Heart change = Temporary change

Heart change + Behavioral change= Permanent change

"God's goal for us is that we mature into spiritual adults who have tender hearts that mirror His."

Look at the great lengths God took to preserve Jonah and
give him opportunity to participate in His purposes:
-He hurled a wind and a STORM so fierce they almost destroyed the ship (v.4)

-He gave the sailors NO OTHER OPTION but to toss Jonah overboard (v.15)

-Then God prepared a fish that would come by at just
the right time to swallow him whole
TO KEEP HIM FROM DROWNING
(praise the Lord!! I feel as if I AM drowning..But I know
He'll pull through at JUST THE RIGHT TIME!)

Knowing this should cause us to be more willing to
yield to the discomfort of the discipline He allows.
(I belive that sentence alone was my answer I needed tonight...)

When Jonah found himself in the belly of the fish, he did something he hadn't done since leaving Isreal. "Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish" (2:1) Jonah prayed. He talked to God. Open communication is one of the first signs of a heart being molded by God. Have you fallen into a place of hardship as a result of rebellion against God and the direction He's asked you to go? Are you trying to figure out what to do next while you seek to cope with life? Take Jonah's cue: Acknowledge your sin and accept the discipline. When you do, you'll find your heart changing withing you, softening to the things of God.
(mine has started softening to HIS things...so praise God, Im on the right track!!!!)