Jonah

Running with the Giants
(Hebrews 12:1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
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For when you’ve made bad choices...
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“God always gives you a
.”
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(Jonah 1:1-5) The word of the LORD came to Jonah: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port... Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
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How to Recover from Bad Choices
1.
Take
for your bad choice.
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(Jonah 1:12) “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”
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(Proverbs 28:13 LB) A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.
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2.
and turn away from the bad choice you made.
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(Jonah 2:9) “...What I have vowed I will make good...”
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(Acts 3:19) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.
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3.
Embrace God’s
.
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(Jonah 3:1) Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time...
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(Hebrews 4:16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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Don’t let bad choices
you.
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(Romans 8:1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
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Don’t let bad choices
you.
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(Romans 8:28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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How to Safeguard Against Making Bad Choices
1.
Use
to guide you.
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(Psalm 119:105) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
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2.
Ask the
for wisdom.
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(John 16:13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
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Are my choices God-honoring?
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How will this affect my spiritual health?
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How will this decision affect the people closest to me?
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3.
Seek
.
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(Proverbs 13:20) He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffer harm.
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All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.