Day 2: Jonah Prays

Back in World World II, Louie Zamperini and a number of other soldiers lost their plane in the Pacific Ocean. Many of the crew were killed. Louie and his best friend, Phil, however, survived. Louie, an ex-Olympic Athlete, had struggled with belief in God. But while stranded somewhere in the Pacific Ocean aboard a life raft in a terrible storm, Louie prayed.

In her best-selling book, Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand writes, “he prayed for himself and Phil, vowing that if God would save them, he would serve heaven forever.”

The timing of Louie’s prayer isn’t unusual. We all know it’s when we’re at our lowest low, when our fears are most heightened, when we feel completely and utterly incapable, these are the moments in which we cry out to God.
In Chapter 2 Jonah finds himself in the same situation. He has gone down, down, down, and now at his lowest low, he cries out to God.

As you read today, consider this: What parts of Jonah’s prayer stick out to you the most? Why do you think that is?

READING:

    JONAH 2

What aspects of Jonah’s story resonate with your own life experience? (Consider the decisions he made, those he interacted with, etc.)

What kinds of ambitions or hopes could Jonah have had through his life experiences? In what ways does this help you to identify with the story of Jonah?

F260 READING: (A Scripture Reading Plan for Busy Believers)

Read: Joshua 7 & 8

Reflect: What did you H.E.A.R. from God today? HEAR Bible Study Method

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, even if I’m not currently at my lowest low, I recognize that I’m more prone to reach out to You when I feel that I am in need of something. Today, I’m simply grateful for the reminder that You and You alone have fulfilled my greatest needs. Specifically, I want to thank You for fulfilling my needs of (______), (______), and (______). May my gratitude of who You are and all You have done for me and within me be ever-present in my thoughts throughout this day. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click here if you would like to provide feedback to help us make the daily devotional and scripture reading guide even better.