Serenity Seekers

“Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish’” (Jonah 3:7-9).

When was the last time I did a complete fast? It’s been a while. But some will ask, Is that the most important question here? So I live in a state of Godly repentance? Now there’s a question to consider!! Do I get all broken up when I call God a liar? We all do you know. WE call it by it’s more mild form, ‘disbelief.’ It seems so much easier and gentler on us to say, “I struggle with faith…I don’t trust God as I should…I don’t believe God loves me very much.” The bottom line: we call God a liar. It really is that simple. If God speaks and I/we don’t believe it, what is that? When you speak and somebody doesn’t believe you, what’s up with that? Are they not in fact accusing you of speaking a falsehood? Are you not being called a liar? How many times have you ask that very question> You tell your child something and they don’t believe you. Do you get angry and ask, “are you calling me a liar?” Isn’t God entitled to the same response? I can just hear the Lord now when we doubt his Word, “Are you calling Me a liar?” Isn’t that the essence of the Event in the Garden of Eden? God spoke, the Serpent deceived, Adam and Eve believed the Serpent instead of God. Did they not call the Lord a liar? Are we not guilty of the same thing every day? Perhaps it is time for a global sackcloth and ashes event with the attendant fasting and prayer? How about you, is it your time?

Chaplain Pete