Week four in Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer, closely follows on the heels of last week’s study where we looked at the messes we make when we stray from God’s plan, and how He can use it for His glory. While God loves us no matter what, His desire for us is obedience. Sometimes that means doing something we do not want to do, other times it means waiting for His timing. Neither is easy, and we often seek to take matters into our own hands, much like Jonah did. We often end up with the same result. While we may not be swallowed by a fish, we end up in situations that are not good for us, and God rescues us. He still wants us to be obedient and do what He has called us to do. Before we can do that though, our hearts must be transformed and we must be willing to obey. Once we are, God will send us out on the path He has called us to. We will not be going alone, but with the Holy Spirit. Nothing we face is too great or difficult because He is empowering us. We should never do things on our own, but through the power of the Holy Spirit so God alone gets the glory. I do not want people looking at what I have done. I want them to stand back from something and say, “Wow! Look what God has done! ” He alone!
When we choose to meander on our own paths, and seek out our own ways, God is not finished with us. He will be there waiting when we are ready to come back and do what He has asked. He will offer his never-ending grace and forgiveness. Just be ready to be obedient, as that is what He truly wants. Instead of writing more for you to read, I really feel the Lord is asking us to spend some extra time searching our hearts for areas of disobedience. If you find some, go to Him in prayer. He is waiting to take you in His arms, clean up the scrapes and bruises, and set you back on the journey He has called you to. If you know He is calling you to something, spend time in prayer and commit to it. He loves you unconditionally and more than you can imagine. Go to Him, and embrace your Divine Intervention.
In audio session four, Priscilla recommends reading the book by Iris Blue. The book is called Iris: Trophy of Grace.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for clarity on how to reach the Ninevites, the people God wants you to serve. We welcome any prayer needs from the group and ask that you will print a copy of the prayers, place them, in your workbook and pray for these women. If you have a prayer request for our prayer wall, please click here.
Priscilla Shirer Quotes
- Only after we’ve been squeezed by God can we be poured out. (from audio session four)
- The bible bulges with account after merciful account of individuals who’d blown it and yet were offered the clemency that only a compassionate God like ours could give.
- Our second chance brings us full circle to the place where we have to chose full obedience.
- God gave the Spirit to the disciples as an internal compass to help them find their way.
- Obedience necessitates self-denial.
This Week’s Scripture Verses-NASB
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7
No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15
For Next Week
- Read Week Five, pages 105-125 in the workbook
- Listen to the Session Five Audio (optional)
- OR…Listen to the Session Five Video (optional)
Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like
- Do you see God actively searching for you, or hiding from you? Why? (page 89)
- What keeps you from moving forward in obedience to God? (page 92)
- Are you currently at Joppa, the place of decision and the crossroad of obedience? (page 93)
- Have you ever tried to compensate for your rebellion with God? What did you do to make amends? (page 99-100)
On page 89 Priscilla asks you to write a letter of your second chance story. If you’d like to share it here with the group, email us and we’ll post it for you.
Laying Down My Life,
Shannon
I feel like God has been eagerly awaiting me… if anyone has been in hiding, it was me! I am so thankful He is a God of second chances!
I think that when I don’t respond to God’s calling, it is out of the excuse of fear or anxiety. We get used to where we are at and moving outside of that comfort zone is very uncomfortable. I can speak a lot about faith and I truly believe that God provides, but putting the rubber to the road is a different story sometimes. We have to realize that we must make changes and keep moving forward. What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing you’ve always done but expecting different results…
My Joppa is simply not knowing what God wants me to do. When I read and think about Ninevah, I expect some big grand scheme. As I was working through the notes night before, I wrote down, “How can I bring You glory? Is it just in the little things?” I think that sometimes serving “Ninevites” in our world is just being a light, being the hands and feet of Jesus… today as I was driving home from work “Hands and Feet” was playing and it struck me (and this may seem stupid but it really hit home with me)… Jesus was nailed to the cross by his hands and feet… the very things he used to serve others, to get Him where He needed to go to bless people. As the “hands and feet” of Jesus, we can expect to have pain as we serve others. So I am praying that God will allow me to make a difference just in my daily walk, not any big “WOW” moment, not a big shining spotlight, but a little penlight going from task to task, person to person, illuminating the way.
Sometimes I think that saying I’m sorry is enough… that is how I compensate for rebellion… just apologizing over and over… but like I tell me son sometimes, “Sometimes sorry isn’t good enough”. Even though God is merciful to forgive, there are still consequences.
Sorry to be so lengthy. I have enjoyed this week. God bless!
Wow…I love the Hands and Feet connection you had with the song, Jesus, and Joppa. I’ll be praying on how God can use you as his hands and feet here on earth, one person at a time.
And may I say that I just got finished with the Video Session for Week 5- and Wow!!! Talk about one of those God things… it was just like He was saying “You need an answer? Here it is!”
Wonderful! I love stories like this Lauren….
All your comments have been so helpful. I love the hands and feet comparison too – never thought about it that way before. Do you see God actively searching for you, or hiding from you? Why? (page 89) …… What keeps you from moving forward in obedience to God? (page 92) ….. Are you currently at Joppa, the place of decision and the crossroad of obedience? Yes – I do see God actively searching for me, because I have been running from Him due to fear. I have a record of not finishing things so now I am scared to commit. Then, like Christina’s experience w/VBS – I thought I heard the Lord tell me to work w/the preschoolers on Wednesday night at my church. So I immediately volunteered but it is not something I enjoy and have to make myself go every week. I don’t know if I missed what He said or if this is Satan’s way of making me quit when I should be doing this. I keep thinking about those little children and how they need Jesus – but find my patience or lack thereof not a positive example for them.
Yes I am at Joppa – a place of decision. I am realizing how much there is to do and I need to get busy – no more excuses – believe that the Lord will equip me if I step out in faith to do Kingdom work. Need to get out of my own little world. There is a great song out now by Matthew West “My Own Little World” – really spoke to me. If you haven’t heard it – you should do so. Just recently volunteered for a local program that feeds children and now I need to DO IT!
I have been trying to justify my rebellion – but those excuses don’t work any more – actually I wasn’t fooling God was I?
This is an awesome study and Christine – thank you for being obedient to lead a Bible Study. I am so thankful for this Bible Study. Think I will find a copy of A Different Kind of Wild too.
God bless.
1. Searching for me. I see His present all around me and not pay any attention
to Him. For the past few weeks I have seen this gorgeous butterfly almost every
day and sometime more than once. I think it is Yahweh way of saying I am here…
please come to me!
2. What keeps me from moving forward in obedience….. Afraid of what will happen if I totally let go and let Him. I am somewhat of a control freak.
3. Are you at Joppa?? Yes, I think so…. for I feel as if this is where Yahweh wants me at this time at home with my ill husband….. even if I do not always obey and listen to that small still voice.
4. I can not hide my rebellion from Yahweh, He sees it to clearly. Hiding it from Him or trying to was just a excuse anyway.
Thanks for doing this study Christine….I think it was what I needed in this season of my life and at this time. I am going to see if the library has a copy of A Different Kind of Wild too.
I would LOVE to follow that butterfly Sue! Abut a month ago I was sitting in the parking lot of a retail store, eating In & Out Burgers with my kids. A HUGE larger than normal monarch butterfly landed on my windshield, drifted past me to another car. I saw people in the car in front of me also noticed it and their hands were pointing at the direction the butterfly landed. It was that large and beautiful your eyes couldn’t help but notice it….just like Jesus. My children were in awe. Then we noticed tiny birds, the first one was sitting inside the wheel hub of the car, right on the tire. We looked and saw a second bird on another car, sitting on the inside tire. My daughter noticed both cars were red. It was so beautiful and so strange at the same time! We simply had to feed them….per my 8 yr old daughter, so the little birds were eating fries with us.
Whenever I am stressed out a sparrow will land on my car or near me.. It’s reminder that God will take care of me. He is so Good
#1) I believe he is searching me out. Showing his words to me.
I admit that I don’t know all the books of the bible or where to find some of them. I’ve only been back to church now for about a year and a half. I haven’t opened a bible since my childhood until then. I joined the women’s bible study at my church to learn more about the bible and what it says. I’m just sorry that I stayed away for so long. My teenage sons do not want to go church. But my daughter loves it. I will not make the same mistake twice. The Lord will take care of my boys and help them on their path to him.
I try to make amends all the time. I didn’t realize that I was doing it.
Historically I have always seen God search me out and eager awaiting to give me a second chance(pg 89) He send others to speak to me to guide me and be an example. Especially when I choose to be bitter instead of forgiving.
Now I see that the reasons I am having problems with the church I attend now is because this wasn’t the church wanted me to go to 2yrs ago. I justified my decision by saying that this church was a better fit for my son. I didn’t want to be alone there. I wanted to go to the church my sister was attending.
1.Do you see God actively searching for you, or hiding from you? Why? (page 89) Yes I think he has searched for me and I have been the one hiding the whole time I have been asked to study his word but always found excuses to run in another direction. To Busy at work, To busy being a working mom, Just plain sight hiding.
2.What keeps you from moving forward in obedience to God? Fear of letting myself go. I use to hurt people easily by being so straight forward so now distance myself from them to protect me more so than them. I need to get back to living, enjoying, and doing for others.
3.Are you currently at Joppa, the place of decision and the crossroad of obedience? (page 93) Yes it has been a summer of decision making for my entire family. I have seen that I have been putting off decisions for a long time. I need to go back and look at my Joppa moments and start at the first place where I jumped onto the ship and got into the storm. Make the decision and move forward. I have just been staying safe to long.
4.Have you ever tried to compensate for your rebellion with God? What did you do to make amends? I have been just asking forgiveness for the same old things never really letting go of them and turning them over. Like it says time to start doing the things we have been taught and stop the praying and trying to offer sacrifices and never do the get er done or start doing part.
1. God always seems to be searching me out and pulling me back when I stray.
2. I think trust issues keep me from moving forward in my obedience. I have a had time letting go and trusting anyone including God.
3. I always seem to slide back to Joppa. It is so hard to be completely obedient and I seem to always be back at square one again.
4. My place to make amends is to be disappointed in myself again and self loathing. Sometimes I so want to be obedient then I let myself get in the way again.