Persistent Pursuit

When God asks us to do anything we should feel truly blessed and honoured that He has chosen us. So we should just do it. Thoughts might come into our minds what if we mess up? or how we will accomplish it? It is our God who asks and He will only give us something to do that He knows we can do. Remember He will take us through it. We should thank Him for choosing us.

First of all, let me say thank you,Tami,for being obedient to help us draw closer to God using technology this way with P4. All week long, God has been speaking to me about his track record. One way I know will help me to not be so fickle, is to write down the ways God has come through for me and my friends and family, in a praise journal. It's one thing to see how God responded to Joseph, David, Peter, Paul and other people of the bible. It's another thing to BELIEVE that God would respond similarly to my life. But I really have seen God do some amazing things in my life and the lives of some of my friends, but my memory is short. Very short!! Writing down these praise reports and rereading them in good and bad times will remind me that God is faithful and that His track record is amazing. He really is the same yesterday, today and forever. It will show me how he loves me and help to motivate me to do what He asks. I just need to be more disciplined about writing these things in one place on a regular basis. Anyone want to be my accountability partner for this?

I think that although Jonah did not trust God at first to help him speak to the people of Nineveh, he always revered and respected Him. I believe that he, just like many of us, knew God's power and promises, but his faith wavered just a bit. I also believe that God will not really cause bad things to happen to us, but He will allow certain things to occur in order to get our attention, increase our faith, or teach us a lesson.

The thing that we can do to be less fickle about God's love and his tasks for us is to remember incidents like Jonah's, but honestly it is sometimes hard if we are not constantly reading, studying, and praying. Maybe we could purposely surround ourselves with people who are wholeheartedly committed to loving God and keeping his commandments, and that will "rub off" on us!

"Total Submission" seems to remedy. It's easier said then done in our lives, however. The majority of us have strong, and sometimes stubborn wills! When we finally surrender and submit, like Jonah, then we're in the place the Lord wants us.

what a wonderful way to talk to others that not only share Christ, but can talk things out like this....i love jonah, i am so much like him and though i have never been put inside the belly of a fish, i have been in my own private "fish-belly" where i was brought to the place that i had to "remember" God or die. Thank You Jesus!!

Ok Ed J., how do you do it? Totally submit...that is? I understand the concept, but am weak in the application. Any suggestions?

I see totally submitting as an important 'decision' on our part, but we really can't carry it out in our own strength and that's where the challenge comes lies. We're seeking God, pressing our way to Him, longing to do His will, but the areas of our souls (mind, emotions, the will to act) kinda just cave in (subbonness, self-pity, etc). The process of waiting and continuing to believe that God will do His part in 'our submission' is where our 'fickleness' shows it's ugly head. So how can we get beyond this or 'grow' beyond this? I think David gives us some insight in Psalm 131 where He learned to 'wean' His soul from matters too great for Him. The other side of this is that we don't always view everyday matters or seemingly trivial matters as being too great for us. Perhaps once we begin to see that 'fickleness' begin to rear its ugly head, maybe we can practice 'weaning' ourselves and that may mean backing off for one person, calming down for another, but whatever it may take to 'settle' down and to allow the Spirit of the Lord to minister to you or help you in the situation may be worthwhile!...Just a thought...

Greetings Beverly,
It's something easier said than done to be sure! And for most folks it's hard to get to that point of total submission. I guess the answer would be that when we finally reach that point of total helplessness & inability in trying to do things ourselves, and fully commit the situation to the Lord would be the best approach for us.

In my own life [I had a car accident in 1974 leaving me wheelchair-bound, so it took a lot of seeking for answers on my part; drinking, drugs, ... finally thoughts of suicide. But when I finally realized I couldn't "fix" the situation (a broken heart and no peace within) at all - that's when I surrendered it to God. I had to almost come to my wits end for that to occur, unfortunately for a lot of us this is what has to happen also]

first i want to thank tami w. and kevin for praying for me and my business on the previuos blog . what an awesome encouragement . i thank God i just "happened" to find this blog site ! on being less fickle in responding to Gods love and tasks, i have to remember that i'm doing something that will change a life forever . i should do it and not worry what i'm going to get out of it . nineveh was destroyed several hundred years later BUT the people that repented through jonahs preaching were not . JUST DO IT and leave the results up to the LORD ...

Jonah 4- But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,1 and yhe was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? zThat is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a agracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and arelenting from disaster. 3 bTherefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, cfor it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, d“Do you do well to be angry?” read the rest of chapter 4 . i get the feeling jonah hated the nineveh people . or at least did not like them much . fickle may have to do with LOVE sometimes ...

The story of Jonah is real to me also. I have found that in my daily walk with Jesus, I need to consciously focus on learning to trust in all situations. This is an ongoing and growing persuit.If we can work on focussing on the goodness of God and bringing to mind His Word, being thankful in all things, God will light the way. Ist time commentor, and greetings to all!

i just thank the Lord for his relentless love in pursuying me. Like Jonah God never would let me go. He let me think I was losing my mind, He let me chase after Idols,He let me get completely misrable. It was so bad I questioned my own salvation. But thank God for his relentless love, He loves me no matter what and I can look back now and see it because He would not leave me alone. God's ways are not our ways. Thank you for the radio programs this week they have really helped me, I wondered how God could love me even when I was disobedient for so long.

I appreciate what you all have expressed today. I also think there is another important piece to consider. I agree that total submission is a decision on our part, however, I don't know that it is as easy as handing it over to the Holy Spirit. I'd like to think it is, but I feel like the "fickleness" we have within comes from some major insecurities that we each harbor. These insecurities are stumbling blocks to our relationship with God & His Holy Spirit within us. We need to be able to identify these insecurities, claim them before the Lord, and deal with them head-on. This takes time, patience, support, & someone to hold us accountable.

This has become more clear to me lately. In the past, it has been difficult for me to discern where God wants me to be and what part of ministry He wants me to do. I have prayed for a giant fish to swallow me up and dump me out wherever God wants me to be. Then I would know I was in the right place doing God's will. God has made it clear to me that I'm not ready for that giant fish yet, because I haven't completely dealt with all of my insecurities. I am confident that when those stumbling blocks are removed, I will be ready to submit to whatever God has in store for me. Praise be to our Almighty God who is persistently patient and loving!!!

1. But it displeased Jonah exceedingly,1 and yhe was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? zThat is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a agracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and arelenting from disaster. 3 bTherefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, cfor it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, d“Do you do well to be angry?” Jonah 4. i think Jonah did not care for the people of nineveh. isn't that why he got angry when got relented from destroying them ? if we truly love the Lord we tend to not be fickle and respond to His tasks because we love that which he does .

Thank you Tami for this wonderful and anointed set up. I just pitched into P4 through listening to Joy1250. I have been blessed tremendously and learning a lot. I have started with beginning to seek the Lord early in the morning so I wake up at 4am to pray and study. I am in my valley now and have looked for help from sources other than Him and got the results typical of mankind. Through this, I have been able to resolve that only Him who takes us to it can take us through it. I am still in the belly of the fish crying to the Lord for so many things which the Lord can transform in split seconds.
His restoration has already begun as I continue to trust Him and Him alone. Your continued prayers will also help for me to remain forever in His presence. Thank you and the bunch.

As I was reading these comments, I realise how truly blessed we are that we can share the adversities that have come into our lives. This is great. I was also thinking that each morning as we rise up giving God thanks for the past day and what He would do for us in the new day we should also ask Him to take over our life that day and lead and guide us. We all realise it is hard but if He is at the wheel it is so much easier for us to walk and talk with Him. May He guide, lead, protect and provide for us all and may we always acknowledge Him. Thank you all.

Good morning Sharon,

Hey thank you for sharing your heart. I prayed for you this morning.

Tami W.