Good Morning Heavenly Father. Thank you for the new day. Thank you for the rains needed by the plants and animals. Thank you for the sun for warmth as well as for light in the day. And thank you for the lights in the night – the moon and all the stars. And thank you for the scriptures for today’s prayer for your daughter Lindsey:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:40)
Yes, the book of Jonah says this:
17 Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)
Yes, but why did Jesus refer to Jonah at all? It was because the scribes and Pharisees had an attitude problem and were demanding a sign or miracle right then and there! Thus this scripture is a good follow up from the prayer of yesterday where I prayed that you would watch over your heart that it would not become hardened:
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: (Matthew 12:34-39)
Lord, I’m back (as usual). I am ready to begin another prayer for Lindsey. Today’s scripture is interesting on many levels. We begin by hearing Jesus refer to his coming death, burial and resurrection by comparing it to the prophet Jonah. Jonah thought he was running away from God, but he ended up being the sign for the ages! But I think it it is just as interesting to see what had just happened before Jesus said this. He saw the generation around him and warned them to look at their hearts! He even gave them an easy way to tell if their hearts were filled with good or with evil.. just look at what they say and do. And so once again I pray for your heart Lindsey. Jesus considered your heart as essential and said that you could store up good or evil in it. I pray that today you store up much good in your heart. I pray that each day you actively look for ways that you can store up good treasures in your heart to keep it fully filled. I also pray that you always will pay attention to what you say because Jesus said it comes from the abundance of your heart. I pray that you will always use this as an early detection system for your heart. If you notice evil coming out of your mouth, I pray that you would find time to pause and refill your heart with good treasures again. And we will give the glory to God. All the glory is his. I pray this in the name and authority of Christ Jesus, King of kings. Amen
New Testament (Matthew 12:40 ESV):
40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
And this puts it into context (Matthew 12:34-39 ESV):
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good,when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them,“An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Old Testament (Jonah 1:17 ESV):
17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
A daughter of God 