We’re on the second week of study as we read Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer. When learned this week that when God gave a command to Jonah, he covered his ears and ran! He did not want to receive further instruction from the Lord, so he skipped town and turned away from prayer. Jonah clearly was not willing to obey the Lord. During the week we had an opportunity to examine our own lives and chances to obey or disobey when called by God. We examined our lives for personal allegiance and purpose.
We easily fall into a downward spiral of disobedience as we run from God like Jonah did and become “sleepers.” On page 49 Shirer brings up the discussion of how a pagan man can wake up a believer to pray. I recall an experience from my own life when my husband was in critical care and my neighbors continued to say “I’ll pray for you.” At the time, I believed God yet I was not in prayer or intimacy with Him. I knew my neighbors were not Christian and yet they were praying. It made me wonder why I was not praying myself, what was I hiding from. My neighbors began mowing the lawn and taking out the trash cans to the curb for me, because I was pregnant and my husband was in ICU with a rare blood disease. As a family we were overwhelmed by the outpouring and we knew our lives would never be the same. When my husband recovered, we found a relationship with God that had not existed in our lives because we were hiding in rebellion.
Prayer Requests
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
- A way to determine where our allegiance lies is to consider how we respond to a divine intervention.
- Most disobedience involves just that- a simple choice to stay put.
- Jonah was on a run from God not only with his feet but with his heart as well.
- The world with its pagan thoughts and ideals, shouldn’t have to rouse us back to intimacy with the one true God.
This Week’s Scripture Verses-NASB
Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish. When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it. Jonah 3:9-10
And the LORD said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” 1 Kings 9:3 NKJV
But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:14-15
Don’t let anyone under pressure to give in to evil say, “God is trying to trip me up.” God is impervious to evil, and puts evil in no one’s way. The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer. James 1:13-15 Message
For Next Week
- Read Week Three, pages 57-77 in the workbook
- Listen to the Session Three Audio (optional)
- OR…Listen to the Session Three Video (optional)
Group Discussion- Answer one question or as many as you like
- Have you ever felt justified in choosing not to obey God? (page 38)
- If you were Jonah, what would you have done when God called, and why?(page 39)
- Are you comforted or discomforted by God’s presence right now? Why? (page 42)
- Have you had a time like Jonah when you didn’t want to sense God’s presence? If you are comfortable, please share your story of your downward spiral listed on page 43.
2. If I were Jonah I probably wouldn’t have heard Him in the first place. I have a really hard couple of years. Nothing others haven’t been through I’m sure, but it really shook me. I’m sorry to say my faith really wavered and I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. Things are on the mend now, and even though I know God cares for me and has never left me, I think I’m still a little shell shocked. One of the things I have learned is that God IS always there. HE had a plan for my life, I justed needed to learn that life isn’t about me, it’s about HIM.
I thought I was way behind..not so much Wheew!
I am enjoying the study so far. It is causing me to reflect on personal obedience and an issue that God will not relent on with me. I am thankful for his persistence.
Answers:
1. Yes for years unfortunately. I felt like I was doing “good” by going to church, praying and actively involved in church committees, but all the time giving into my own choosing because I thought it brought me the comfort I needed at that time. I finally realized through horrible outcomes that God was ALL I needed and was right there the entire time.
2. I am sure it was frightning for Jonah, but the way he chose to flee appears to be more frightning.
3. Gods presence is always comforting, but we must open our hearts to feel the presence and our eyes to witness him.
4. At times in my life I felt like King David; what I should have done I didn’t. The situationI was in became out of control, bad choices lead to downward spirals. Then finally you do ask the question of “how did I end up like this”. The entire situation just lead to sin in turn brings forth death. What a terrible feeling; I hope I never end up there again. Praise God for his grace and salvation. Amen
I love this study, but I am having a hard time with answering some of the questions because I am still struggling with some issues. I feel like one of the other women who responded earlier I probably and running in the opposite direction and did not hear God. Please Lord let me run to you and not way.
As we draw closer to God and become more intimate through the study, we become uncomfortable. The feelings are strong and we are conditioned as humans to manage them and control them. I suggest you recognize the emotion, place a name on it (such as anger, fear, pride, hurt, etc) and then pray. The more you struggle, the more you pray. Do not fear the breakthrough because God is bigger than fear. What He uncovers, He heals or He empowers with strength. It’s okay if you do not answer the group questions here because what really matters is that you are in conversation with God. I’m blessed that you shared your thoughts with us.
I’ll be praying for you, Janise. I just wanted to chime in and say that I appreciate your honesty and your heart for God.
This study uncovers so much. It can really shake you up and do so quickly I might add. With that said, I must tell you that I have found that one of the greatest things about this study is that it steers the “runner” back toward God in a very big way.
Keep Running forward sister. It will be well worth it.
Hugs and blessings,
Kim
Love what you said Kim…thanks for joining the conversation. The more we speak as a group, the more we can learn from one another.
I’m feeling anxiety as I do the study. I’m so scared of what my answers are when I answer honestly.
I don’t want to fail God. But sometimes I am not strong enough to say Yes I will obey no matter what..But I love God and I want to always say Yes and not run.
2. Unlike Jonah, I would have probably stayed put in Israel, locked the door, and filled my mind up with being “busy”. I guess its easier than I thought to run from God – and you don’t have to jump on a ship to do it!
3. I am comforted by His presence, when I stop long enough to jump in His lap and rest. More than anything, God has been using this study so far as a tool to use in helping me understand what is happening with my oldest son. At the Lord’s prompting, I made a dinner date with my son and was able to lovingly share some of the insights that I believe God is showing me. My son was very receptive – and I pray that those seeds will grow in him and cause him to turn back from his sprint away from God and return to his first Love.
Praying for your son to listen with his heart and to experience the love of the Father God.
I was going to answer all the questions, but number 4 is the one. I guess the Lord really wanted me to answer this one. So, please bear with me. So here goes and this is so HARD to do. As some of you already know from my other posts, that I was a hateful, rebellious, runaway, teen. I HATED everyone and I mean hate, not dislike. Family, teachers, school, and friends( if I had any). I left God, church, and family ran away more then once. I drink, smoked, lied, cheated, and stoled!! My parents could not handle me, so I became a ward of the court. Was in a girls school for over a year; made me worst. I stared drinking real bad after I got out, more than before. Spent the night in jail more than once, and just not do to the drinking. What made me stop? After all I was in my late twenties by this time. My mother died in a car accident coming to see me from Terre, IN. to Indianapolis, IN. on April 13, 1985. I blame myself for that and still to this day….if only!!! So, I just quit, stopped cold. Looked back and said what am I doing with my life? I was still not done with sin, and doing things I should not do. But slowly, I have been able to turn my life around with the Lord’s help. I only hope my family can forgive me as our Savior has done.
Thanks for bearing with me, and reading this. Blessing to all.
God forgives and heals and we can accept that. The hardest thing to accept is forgiveness of self. I am touched that you have the courage to share your story, this is a “no shame zone” and you will not be judged by others. We are here in spirit to encourage one another into personal intimacy with Christ.
You will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. Job 11:15 NIV
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34;5 NIV
Christine,
Thank you for those kind words. This needed to be said and by God’s grace I was able to do it. Also you have given me a gift today; my life verse from Job 11:15. Someday I will wear it proudly. Thanks for all you do.
Forgiving ourselves is often harder than forgiving others. You got into a lifestyle when you were young. I say, just praise God that you are out of that lifestyle and move on. Your mother’s death was an accident, nothing more. You’re story touched me. Please know that I will be praying for you and your family.
Sue,
I didn’t have a comment to make to your post, because if I hadn’t forgiven you each and every time you hurt me, we wouldn’t be here now doing this Bible study together. I can’t speak for the rest of the family but only myself. If God can forgive an imperfect, suck up, hard headed, self-centered, undeserving creature like me, how could I do less?
Judee (B00-B00)
Thanks for the post. I love you, sis. As Christine says this is a “no shame zone”
“He who is without sin among you, cast the first stone”. No one is without sin and you are SO BRAVE to come right out and share this with us. I am so touched by your honesty.
I remembered this when I read your entry:
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:38-39.
1. I have felt justified in not obeying God by admitting I am confused and need more direction. I’ve been conditioned to verify, pray, ask, listen, pray, wait, be still, wait…you get it! So when God speaks and tells me to do something, I wait for more verification. I’ve learned not to trust myself, my justification to disobey. This was something I learned as a child and it the residue remains even at 47 years old. I trust God and not myself. He’s ready for a breakthrough with me.
2. I would not run from God’s presence, I would wait for more and more direction and instruction. Specific details on who, what, where, when how. I’d see the yellow light of caution instead of the green light to GO.
3. Completely comfortable in His presence. Last night I had a terrifying moment when I had a dream and I panicked. I realize that I had been experiencing anger throughout the day, and when God revealed something to me I reacted with emotion and missed the importance of His message. Emotions cloud our vision and we are unable to hear Him clearly.
4. As a young child, I remember having vivid dreams. One dream was about many mangled bodies and blood, people were killed. I was just 7 years old, it was the month before Christmas and I was terrified. The next day, a horrible plane accident happened (We Are Marshall 1970 November) and I saw pictures in the newspaper of people who died. In desperation I prayed and asked God to make the dreams stop, thinking at a young age that my dream had caused the people to perish. Today I realize the dream was an opportunity to pray and ask for mercy, and I closed the door on that opportunity because of my fear. In my fear, I ran from God.
Fear—while I’m much better at recognizing that God knows everything, there are times when I still have fear.
When I was a little girl, we lived on a street with lots of duplexes. There was a little store at the end of our street where we could buy basics like bread and milk. Sometimes, after the sun had gone down, my mother would send me to the store for something we needed. As I walked that street, I would pass each duplex and get to the opening that ran alongside, to the backyards. It was very dark and I was afraid so I would close my eyes tight and say, “God is with me all the time.” Then, I’d run as fast as I could past those dark spaces.
Sometimes, in those “dark” places, I still whisper, “God is with me all the time.”