Morning Prayer - Choose Life, Not Escape

Good morning, Lord,

And already I feel Jonah stirring within me, the one who would rather find the first ship away from Your will.

Lord, You call. You have always called. You called to Adam in the garden, to Abraham from his country, and to the prophet Jonah. And today, in this moment, You call to me, personally, by name.

You know me to the core, You know my thoughts, my fears, and my past, and yet You still call me to Your service.

“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.” (Heb 1:1-2)

Through the Son, You speak even today, in the silence of this morning. Your voice echoes in my heart, inviting me to listen to You and follow You.

“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’” (Heb 3:7-8)

No, Lord, I do not want to harden my heart. For I know that I, too, am called. I do not need a special vision to know that my task is to be a priest right where I am—in my family, at my work, among my friends.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Pet 2:9)

But Lord, I confess, Your call is at times so uncomfortable. You send me to the ‘Ninevehs’ of my life—to people whom I find difficult to love, into situations I wish to avoid. You send me out of my safe haven, and it frightens me.

And it is then that Jonah awakens within me. That part of me which knows Your goodness but does not wish to share it with those I consider ‘enemies’ or unworthy. That part of me which is full of pride, selfishness, and ego.

“And he prayed to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.’” (Jonah 4:2)

Oh, how small my heart is compared to Yours! You see the multitudes who need Your mercy, while I see only my own resentments and prejudices. Help me to live without walls around the heart, and open my eyes to Your compassion.

“And should I not have mercy on Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than one hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11)

And so, instead of going toward Nineveh, I turn and look for the way to Tarshish. I look for excuses, justifications, easier paths. I search for a ship that will carry me away from Your will, and at times, it even seems that things are arranging themselves in my favor. But this is merely Satan’s ship, waiting in the harbor.

“But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:3)

How naive I am to think I can flee from You! Where can I go where You are not? Every step away from You is a step downward—into isolation, into turmoil, into the storm.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?” (Ps 139:7)

Every step toward Tarshish costs me peace, joy, and time. Disobedience is the costliest thing in my life, for it distances me from You, who are my only true home. Guide me back, so that I may truly place You on the throne of my heart.

But thank You for the ‘great fish’ in my life. Thank You for the circumstances that halt me on my path of escape and turn me back to You. Thank You for second chances. Today, I do not want to be Jonah who flees, but I want to be Isaiah who answers Your call.

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” (Isa 6:8)

Here I am, Lord; send me! Today, I consciously choose the path of obedience to You. I no longer wish to rely on my own understanding, but I want to trust in Your way. Help me to always choose life.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” (Deut 30:19)