REMEMBER THE LORD

“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