Today’s Key Scripture

“God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it.”

— Jonah 3:10

Another powerful example of prayer changing God’s plans is recorded in the book of Jonah.

God planned to destroy Nineveh. God told Jonah the prophet to go to Nineveh and proclaim God’s judgment upon the city. Jonah rebelled and went in a different direction, but when the storms hit the boat he was riding in, he was thrown overboard and swallowed by a big fish. God got Jonah’s attention. He was delivered from the fish’s belly, and when he hit dry land, Jonah headed directly toward Nineveh to preach:

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three-day journey in extent. And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. (Jonah 3:1-6)

God saw the hearts of the people of Nineveh as they repented of their sins and turned from their evil ways. As a result, God changed His plans to destroy the city, and “He did not do it” (verse 10).

What an example for us today!

 

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and grace. Of myself, I deserve judgment, just as the citizens of Nineveh deserved it. Yet, just as You poured out Your forgiveness upon them, so I ask for Your forgiveness and favor. I ask that You guide me and direct me through all the pitfalls and perils that the enemy of my soul wants to place in my path. Keep me strong, even as I become more dependent upon You. Help me to walk on Your path with certainty and purity. And may I rest upon Your promises, day by day, to be unafraid to walk boldly in Your light, even as I proclaim salvation through You. I pray this in the name of Jesus, amen.

 

*All Scripture references are NKJV unless otherwise noted.