His Compassion to Comfort. His Compassion to Confront.

  By: Lauren Thomas 

We all like a tidy story, complete with conflict, climax, and conclusion. I think that’s why we largely ignore the final chapter of Jonah. But the fourth chapter of Jonah is where most of us live our lives.

I know you’re familiar with Jonah. He was called by God to go to Nineveh and warn them of God’s coming judgements. Instead, he fled in the opposite direction. Nineveh was in Assyria, and Assyria was Israel’s enemy after all. While on a boat, heading in the opposite direction of his God-given task, he was confronted by a storm. He knew the storm was his fault, and told the pagan sailors on board as much. They reluctantly threw him overboard. God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, then vomit him onto land. Jonah had a lot of time to contemplate during those three days in a fish. So, when God recommissioned him to go to Nineveh, Jonah complied. Jonah’s prophetic message to the Ninevites resulted in widespread repentance. And at this, God relented from the punishment he had planned for them. 

 

That covers chapters 1, 2, and 3. 

 

Now for chapter 4. Jonah didn’t like it. He got angry. Complained. He threw a pity party to rival the size of that great. He sat outside the city and waited, hoping that God would punish the city anyway. (Yeah, Jonah isn’t someone we should want to emulate). 

 

The whole book is about God’s great mercy and compassion. In addition to God showing compassion to Nineveh, God continued to exude compassion, even to undeserving Jonah, by appointing a plant to give Jonah’s pity party some pleasant shade. 

 

Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant.

Jonah 4:6

 

We get this kind of compassion. In fact, this is how we generally define compassion: concern for the suffering of others. So that’s why we can miss God’s next act of compassion for Jonah: God appointed a worm to destroy Jonah’s shade plant, followed by a scorching east wind. This got Jonah’s attention. And the dialogue between God and Jonah that follows contains God confronting Jonah with his great compassion.

 

I mentioned earlier that this is where we live. By which I mean generally, that we are recipients of God’s great compassion through the work of Jesus Christ, our Savior. But specifically, I mean to encourage you by a redefinition of your circumstances. 

 

God often shows us his compassion by alleviating our discomfort. And sometimes God shows us his compassion by removing our comfort in order to confront us with his character. Read Jonah chapter 4 to see what I mean. God’s compassion for you doesn’t change based on your circumstances. Don’t be like Jonah who felt he had the right to get mad at God for the way things were going. It was God’s compassion to comfort Jonah and it was God’s compassion to confront Jonah. But God’s compassionate character is constant. 

 

Whatever you are facing today, hold on to the truth of God’s character: He is compassionate toward you.

 

Reflection:

Remember a time when you felt God’s compassion through comfort.

Remember a time when you were confronted by God’s character through a time of suffering.

How can you reframe your current circumstances in the light of God’s compassion?

Your Daily Portion

By: Jenifer Metzger

The Lord is my portion; I

have promised to keep Your words.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:57‬ CSB

Each time we sit down with Jesus, He hands us a portion, a takeaway. He gives us what we need for that moment or that day or that situation or that season. We never walk away empty handed. If we do feel as though we’ve walked away without a portion, it is because of our own doing. Today let’s talk about how we can receive our portion every time.

Have open hands. If our hands are closed around what we think or what we want, we can’t receive what He has. We must release our grip and open our hands in worship. Then, He can fill them up.

Pray more than your requests. Sometimes we sit down with our Bible, we read a little, then we take our prayer requests to God. We forget that prayer is more than taking needs to God. Prayer is a conversation. Thank God, worship Him, tell Him how much you love Him, and listen quietly.

Repent so sin is not blocking us. Sin is like putting a black sheet in front of our face. We are blocked from seeing what is in front of us. Sin blocks us from God because He cannot be with sin. Repent of your sins so nothing is blocking you from God.

As you read, ask questions. Ask things like ”What is God teaching me right now?” and “What caused a stirring in my spirit?” If we pause long enough to ask and search the answer, we will likely find our portion.

Rid your time of distractions. I’m not talking about our kids playing. Sometimes our quiet time just includes the beautiful noise of children. I’m talking about things like our phones. Those dings and pings are very distracting. Put your phone, tablet, and other devices away so your attention isn’t pulled to them.

Let’s be women who seek and receive our daily portion every time we sit down with our Father.

Discussion:
1. Which of these do you struggle with and which do you find easier in this season of life?
2. What are other ways you can position yourself to receive your portion?

96

Names of God Series: Saved by Jehovah Elohe Tishuathi

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: 

"Save me from the guilt of bloodshed, God—
God of my salvation—
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness."

~Psalm 51:14

In this week's installment of our names of God series, we now come to the name Jehovah Elohe Tishuathi. I have to admit, I was not at all familiar with this name when I first heard it! But it is a beautiful name of God and well worth studying.

As can be deduced from this passage, the name Jehovah Elohe Tishuathi means "The Lord God of My Salvation", pointing to the fact that God is our ultimate rescuer and redeemer.

What is so meaningful about this is that God's rescuing nature does not just pertain to the fact that He saves us from our sins and provides us with eternal life (as if that weren't enough!). What is extra meaningful about this, given the context of these words of David's in Psalm 51, is that God also rescues and saves us in the here and now, as well. 

Now, I'm well aware that we live in a fallen and sin-cursed world and therefore do regularly face situations and losses that are grievous. We are not saved out of every hard situation or rescued from every kind of grief on this side of heaven. We all know that personally. 

But what I want you to remember today and be encouraged by is that there are still countless things the Lord has and will save us from this side of heaven - some of which we are aware of (like a cancer diagnoses that went into remission) and some of which we are very unaware of (like a fiery dart of some kind from the wicked one that the Lord thwarted before it could ever touch us).

So, chin up, dear sister. Our God is still in the saving business, and He will continue to save you in one way or another every day of your life! Because, after all, that's who He is! He is our Jehovah Elohe Tishuathi.

Reflection Questions: 

1) What are some things the Lord has rescued you out of in your life?

2) What does it mean to you to know that the Lord isn't merely interested in our eternal salvation, but is also interested in rescuing us in the here and now, as well?

3) How can this encouragement today of realizing the Lord has saved you from things you weren't even aware of make it to where you can take joy and have hope today?

The Battle & Our Armor

 By: Joanne Viola

Life is a battle. If I may be honest, some days I forget this. And then come the days, when life brings the reminder as the battle is fierce. Perhaps that is where you find yourself today so may I share some of the reminders which helped me lately.

“A final word: be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 
Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm 
against all strategies of the devil.” 
(Ephesians 6:10-11, NLT)

It is the Lord’s armor and only by the Lord’s protection that we are able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. Not some. All.

Let’s take a closer look at each part of the armor He has provided for us:

• The belt of truth. “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth …” (verse 14a, NLT). We can stand firm in the truth of God’s Word. We need not be a victim to any of Satan’s lies.
• The breastplate of righteousness. ” … and the body armor or God’s righteousness” (verse 14b). It is His righteousness which guards our hearts from evil, keeping us pure and holy and protected by the blood of Jesus.
• The shoes of peace. “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared” (verse 15). The peace which comes from the Gospel can shine through us and be a light to all we encounter even in the most difficult of days.
• The shield of faith. “In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil” (verse 16). We need not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat but can be ready for the enemy’s fiery darts which try to get us to doubt, deny, or believe lies.
• The helmet of salvation. “Put on salvation as your helmet …” (verse 17a). We are to keep our mind focused on Christ and not give the enemy a stronghold on our thoughts. We are to keep our thoughts protected by the assurance that we are indeed saved and belong to God. 
• The sword of the Spirit. ” … and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (verse 17b). We are to respond to the enemy’s attack either with the spoken or written word of God. We can use God’s Word to expose the tempting lies of Satan and send him fleeing.

We are to be wise and recognize the reality of the evil and dangers we face in the spiritual realm. However, we need not live in fear for God has given us all we need to defeat the enemy and stand firm. The enemy is no match for the powerful Word of God in our lives.

We can be armed and ready and overcome
as we fight our battles
in the mighty power of Christ.

 

Reflection: 
Do you remember to put on the full armor every day? Do you utilize parts of the armor more than other parts? How can you be better armed for each day?

 

**This is an edited post which first appeared on this site HERE.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

 

 

Don't Rehearse Your Anger

By: Lauren Thomas 

Anger can be helpful. It helps us know a wrong has been committed. This can help us protect the innocent and separate ourselves from evil. However, not all anger is accurate. This is due to our fallen natures, our selfish perceptions, and finite understanding. It’s what we do with anger that makes it beneficial or harmful – both to ourselves and others. In fact, Ephesians 4:26 tells us that anger itself is not the problem; it’s the sin that can result from anger. Yet, in Colossians 3:8 we are instructed to “put away” anger, wrath, malice, slander. Notice that progression? Anger is a slippery slope.  

If you’ve ever been wronged, you’ve probably walked this slippery slope. And the pathway down the slope is “rehearsal”: we mentally rehearse what we wish we could say to our wrongdoer; we mentally rehearse how we could defend ourselves; we mentally rehearse how we could use our words to protect or vindicate ourselves. 

 

This is very natural – according to fallen natures. Our brains are trying to find a way out of the issue. But, this rehearsal is harmful – emotionally, physically, relationally, and spiritually. Spiritually, because it leads to a “root of bitterness” (Hebrews 12:15). Relationally, because it strengthens the belief that “they” are the bad guys, you are the “victim,” and that there need to be “sides” for others to choose from. Emotionally, because instead of helping us find a way out of the problem, our brains are merely strengthening a neural pathway of negativity. Physically, this mental rehearsal damages our bodies by creating a stress response that wears us down.

 

What’s the alternative to rehearsing our anger?

 

1. Take those thoughts captive. As soon as you catch yourself rehearsing, remind yourself of how damaging it is to you and others. Acknowledge that the slippery slope of anger can lead to sin. Repent and focus on something else.

 

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV

 

2. Surrender the outcome to the Lord and rest in his protection. It is not our job to vindicate ourselves. That belongs to God. Once you’ve taken captive your thoughts, give them to the Lord.

 

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
    and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
    and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

Isaiah 54:17 ESV

 

3. Trust that God will give you the words you need in the right moment, without rehearsing them. In Mark 13:11 and Luke 12:11-12, Jesus instructs his disciples to not plan what to say when they are brought to trial, but to rest in the Holy Spirit who will give the words needed. 

 

Reflection:

Do you experience this rehearsal of anger?

What will you do next time you notice yourself rehearsing your anger?

How do you think taking these steps could change your experience of anger?