Good Morning Gorgeous!It’s a brand new day. A fresh new start. A new day to rise and trust afresh in your victory. A new day to trust that God IS on the move. A new day to talk and move as if the mountain is moved, the enemy(fear, worry, lack, troubles, anxiety, sadness, etc) has been slain, and God hears every word you speak to Him.

As I read through the bible, I notice that some of the people that experience radical miracles believed in their victory before they even saw it manifest with their eyes.

Jonah is one example. You may know the story of Jonah already. It’s a popular account of a prophet of God who flees from the Lord when God gives him an incredibly hard assignment.

There are so many treasures to be found in the story of Jonah! But as I read it yesterday, I noticed something I never noticed before. And it was something I never heard preached when pastors preach the story of Jonah. I noticed how he prayed from the belly of the fish with victory on his tongue. Jonah prayed with confidence and assurance in God. He trusted that God was going to move even as he sat inside a fish. Even when Jonah knew he was being corrected by God and put back on track, he still trusted in the goodness of God!

Because Jonah initially fled from God and boarded a boat in the opposite direction of the city that God was asking him to go and preach to, we often think of him as a man of little faith. A man who is disobedient and at odds with God. Some of his choices reflect that, but if you look deeper, he was a prophet who heard clearly from God. He talked with God and God spoke to Him clearly.

God chose him for an over the top, enormous task. He was called to go and preach to a city that was not inhabited by Israelites: a city that was not following God and wasn’t part of the Israelite nation. This showed God’s compassion extending beyond His chosen people, but it was a bit much for Jonah! So, he instead of going where he is told by God, he buys a ticket far from his calling and goes on the run! Anyone else ever go on the run when God reveals His plans for your life? I have. I am guilty of this same narrative more than once!

Jonah thinks he has gotten away with fleeing from God and is found fast asleep in the boat while a great storm has broken out in the sea. The other people on board are terrified! After some discussion, it is discovered that the storm is because of Jonah’s disobedience and Jonah tells them to throw him overboard. They don’t want to, but eventually agree. Jonah is tossed overboard and the wording of the NIV said that God PROVIDED a fish. That was a shift in my thinking. This wasn’t punishment. It was protection and redirection to the mission. That’s another whole message by itself.

So because of his initial response to God’s assignment, Jonah is often seen as having a lack of faith. That may be so when he flees, but check out his POWERFUL prayer from the belly of the fish! He has just been swallowed by a large fish. He has not seen any deliverance yet. He is right in the middle of his turmoil.

From inside the fish, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God.

He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord , and he answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’

The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever.

But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.

“When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord , and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you.What I have vowed I will make good.

I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord .’ ”

And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Jonah 2:1‭-‬10 NIV

Wow! Jonah declared again and again his belief that God had already answered him, already listened to him, already brought him out of the pit, and salvation comes from the Lord!

He was praying strong, faithfilled prayers that demonstrated his heart and steadfast belief that God had ALREADY moved.

We can pray similar prayers! When we pray from a place that our prayers have already been answered, there is power! When we speak faith filled, victory prayers that align with the will of God, heaven responds to our faith and moves.

Dear Lord,

Thank You that when I pray, You hear me. Thank you for Your movement in my life even in areas that I cannot see. Lord, as I mourn, you have answered me. You are in control and moving right now. I place my trust and faith in you afresh and I will see the Your goodness. You have already delivered me, and I am in awe of how You work and how you care for my every need. Lord, You pulled me out of the pit and placed me back on solid ground! I honor You and praise Your Holy name. Salvation comes from You and You alone! Let me be bold enough to declare it everywhere I go! In Jesus’s name, Amen.

This is a psalm with a similar message. David had a strength of being able to bless his own soul by speaking truth into it and letting the truth of who God is pull him up and out. Speak this over yourself today!

I am statement for today!