REMEMBER THE LORD
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Tuesday 26th July 2022
“Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’” Jonah 2:4 (NLT)
According to the scriptures, Jonah was in the belly of the fish. And he was overwhelmed in that very condition. But though Jonah was in a bad situation, he refused to look at it. Rather, he chose to look in the direction of God and His word. In verses 5-6, Jonah said: “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters close over me. Seaweed wrapped itself round about my head. I sank to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth whose gates locked shut forever. But you O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death.”
Though Jonah was still in the belly of the fish, his confession showed that he was seeing himself the way God saw him, even in that situation. As his life was slipping away, He remembered the lord. Beloved, who and what are you remembering? Are you remembering Doctor’s report? Are you remembering the predictions, postulations, and calculations of man? Are you remembering the dreams and negative desires of people towards you? Who are you remembering? The psalmist declares: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” (Psalm 20:7)
Jonah went further to say: “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 mercy, 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.” (Jonah 2:7-9 NLT)
In the kings James version, verse 8 says, “those who observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy”. In other words, what you are seeing around you that looks negative are lying vanities. They create fear in you. But our God is still a God of mercy.
Further Reading: Jonah 2:1-10
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Psalms 40-42; Evening- Acts 27:1-26