Finding the Heartbeat of God
Jonah 4:2-3 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? This is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
A couple of months ago I was working out with a friend and had a frightening moment. We were working hard through a sprint section of a workout when my heart started to race. I was wearing a heart rate monitor and noticed the numbers were climbing out of control. I stopped for a minute but my heart would not slow down. Finally, the trainer told me to sit down and breath deeply. This did the trick. My heart returned to a safe rate and I was able to continue the workout.
When our hearts get out of a correct rhythm it can be frightening. The same is true when our hearts get out of a spiritual rhythm as well. In Jonah chapter 4, Jonah is upset because God has shown mercy to the people of Nineveh. Jonah wanted judgment when God wanted mercy. His heart was out of spiritual rhythm.
This can happen to us as well. Just like a heart rate monitor can tell us when our heart rate is dangerous there are a number of indicators that can tell us when our spiritual heartbeat is off too.
Do you have any self-righteousness attitudes in your heart? Have you ever thought “well those people get what they deserve”? Have you exploded with anger recently? Are you too busy to care for the needs of others?
If you answer yes to one or more of these it might be time for a spiritual heart check. Take a few moments to read and reflect on Jonah 4 and if your spiritual heartbeat is off take a moment to confess this to God. He is faithful and will set you back on the right spiritual heartbeat.
God Bless,
Mike