Heart Choices: In Other Words Tuesdays ~ Running Away -->

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In Other Words Tuesdays ~ Running Away


Today is "In Other Words Tuesday" and our host this week is MiPa of Miriam Pauline's Monologue. She has chosen the following quote for us:

Have you ever wanted to run away? Has your life ever become so difficult that you felt the need to escape? Maybe you're tired of married life because you lost that excitement? Maybe you want to be married but your boyfriend doesn't share your faith but you just know he'll change?

Jonah was attempting to run away from the Lord's instructions. The word of the Lord had come to Jonah very clearly. He was instructed to go to Ninevah and preach.

God was aware of the Ninevites' wickedness and wanted Jonah to proclaim a message God had given to him. But Jonah didn't want to go and tried to run away and instead ...go to Tarshish.

I can laugh at Jonah as I think in my head "Jonah, what were you thinking? Like you can really hide from God! He knows everything and sees everything. Who were you kidding?"

But Tarshish doesn't have to be a place.

We can try to escape and run away to our Ninevah's through:

  • Excess food
  • Shopping and spending money on things we don't need
  • Drinking excessive alcohol and wine
  • Drugs
  • Constantly seeking approval
  • Keeping up with the "Jones"

I'm sure you can add a few I've not thought of.

Many times it's easier to delay or not fully obey what we know God has told us through His Word.

But who are we kidding? After all, God sees all and knows all, especially the motives in our heart.

And delayed obedience is disobedience and ...that's sin.

Instead of justifying our running away or escaping, why not recognize that God's way is the best way? After all, He has our best interests at heart.

Yes, we have choices to make since we have been given a free will. We can choose to satisfy our own flesh. Or we can submit to God's will for our life.

Will you do things the hard way like Jonah? Or will you simply listen to God in the first place?

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Debbie Petras
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11 comments:

  1. Great post my sweet friend. We use this line here..(And delayed obedience is disobedience and that's sin.)..with our kids all the time. It's so true.
    Hugs to you.
    Kim

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  2. Great point Debbie. We can be like Jonah in all of those areas. Ha. I never put that story together with that type of list -- good idea!

    You're right! Who can hide from the Most High God?

    Bless you!
    b

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  3. Great post. So true, any disobedience including delaying is sin. Thanks for participating today.

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  4. Debbie,

    I've often used the story of Jonah in my own life and referencing to others. There is NO where that we can run to or attempt to hide in from the LORD. He sees and knows all. He even knows before we do that we're going to attempt to run and hide.

    My list usually was about running in FEAR from what GOD was purposing me to do.

    Fear of failure and even fear of success. It was a long process to get free from that but I still have to keep those emotions before the Lord so that when He says go forward in something I don't freeze but truly trust and move out on what He's leading.

    Your words are so true:
    "And delayed obedience is disobedience and ...that's sin."

    Love ya.

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  5. Good use of Jonah to illustrate other ways we try to run from God. When you first asked, "Have you ever wanted to run away" I said, "No." Then, when you provided some of the subtler alternatives we use as an escape, I had to rethink that!

    I've been away, including at Bible Camp (I have two posts up on Family Fountain of pics if you get a chance to look), so I'm behind on visiting blogs.

    wb

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  6. This was powerful and although it's often uncomfortable to have a mirror put before me, it is a good thing in the long run. I know I have things in my life that I use as excuses to not go to Ninevah.

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  7. I appreciate the way you've expanded "Tarshish" as possibly being something more than just a place. It could be a destructive behavior. Thank you for your insightful words today.

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  8. I enjoyed your post. Good thoughts.

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  9. Just this week I came across that very quote (delayed disobedience..)in my study of "Experiencing God." It stood out as the thing I remembered most in that day's study. It really is easy to say (as dear Scarlett in "Gone With the Wind), "I'll think about it tomorrow." Often, tomorrow is too late.
    Another thing that comes to my mind is how many places there really are to run and hide: the television, a book, even cleaning the house or doing other chores...any distraction that keeps us from facing God. But truth is, as you said, you can't hide from God. I know that, but sometimes, it's so easy to just fixate on some other activity. But again, you can't hide from God.
    Sometimes when you least expect it, you'll hear "ready or not, here I come.

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  10. I haven't read this scripture in a while so this was of interest to me. Let's see for me it would be running to "others approval" until I learned the best place to hide is in Jesus.

    Love you,
    Mary

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I love to read your comments! I know you have something to share so join in the conversation. And thank you for taking the time.

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