Pray like Jonah

By Andrew Williams

Good morning fellow disciples.

God loves you! Even though you have sinned against Him by disobeying Him, He is waiting on you to repent. Even though your situation may seem daunting, the fact that you are still alive means that you can repent.

Cry out to God right where you are, and expect God to forgive you when you confess your sins, just like He did for Jonah in Jonah 2:1‭-‬10 NLT‬‬‬‬‬:

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. He said,

“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!

You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said,

‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’

“I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever.

But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!

As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.

Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.

But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”

Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.

Prayer: Father God, I have disobeyed You! Because of my sin, others have been hurt. I am at my lowest point right now, but even now I know that You hear me.

I confess my sin of disobedience to You! Forgive me I pray, and deliver me! Restore me to that place where I can serve You once more. Amen.