Choosing God's will over Your Will!

Jul 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When the Storm Reveals Your Running

Jonah slept through chaos while sailors panicked, unaware his rebellion caused the tempest. God uses storms to expose areas where we’ve boarded ships headed away from His call. Resistance creates turmoil, but surrender calms the soul. The question isn’t whether God sees your flight—it’s how long you’ll let the waves crash before you yield. [27:27]

Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa. (Jonah 1:1-3, KJV)

Reflection: What “storm” in your life might be God’s way of exposing a direction you’ve chosen against His will? How does your current struggle reveal where you’ve prioritized comfort over obedience?

Day 2: The Fish Isn’t Your Enemy

The great fish wasn’t punishment—it was grace. God sent it to intercept Jonah’s self-destruction, creating a space for surrender. What looks like confinement might be divine protection, rerouting you from drowning in rebellion to breathing in repentance. Deliverance comes when we stop fighting the rescue. [39:52]

When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. (Jonah 2:7, KJV)

Reflection: What current hardship might actually be God’s mercy preventing worse consequences? Where do you need to stop seeing God’s intervention as punishment and start receiving it as preservation?

Day 3: The Lie of “Partial Surrender”

Jonah declared “I fear the LORD” while running from Him. We often claim allegiance yet compartmentalize areas we govern—careers, relationships, habits. True fear of God leaves no back alleys for self-rule. Either He’s Lord of all decisions or an ignored consultant. [32:22]

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46, KJV)

Reflection: Which part of your life still has a “No Trespassing” sign hung up against God? How does your selective obedience reveal where you still trust your plans over His?

Day 4: Mercy Chases Harder Than Storms

God sent storms, sailors, and sea creatures to pursue Jonah. His mercy doesn’t quit—He’ll disrupt jobs, health, or comfort to reclaim His people. Every hardship for the rebellious is a love letter: “I won’t let you destroy yourself.” Resistance only prolongs the rescue. [42:26]

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6, KJV)

Reflection: What repeated hardship have you blamed on circumstances that might actually be God’s relentless love? How much longer will you let the chase continue before you turn and face Him?

Day 5: Deliverance Begins When You Faint

Jonah’s prayer didn’t start in the fish—it came when his strength failed. Our breakthroughs wait at the end of self-sufficiency. Surrender isn’t defeat; it’s the threshold where God’s power floods exhausted places. Victory begins where your grip finally loosens. [40:08]

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7, KJV)

Reflection: What struggle have you been trying to muscle through in your own strength? What would it look like to stop strategizing and start surrendering that area today?

Sermon Summary

Jonah opens with no confusion about what God wanted. The word of the Lord came to Jonah, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh,” and Jonah understood exactly what God was asking. The issue was not information. The issue was obedience. God said go one way, and Jonah went another way.

Jonah was not an atheist. Jonah was not a pagan. Jonah was a prophet who knew Jehovah, feared the Lord, and could even recognize the hand of God in the storm. Yet Jonah still ran. That is the weight of the question, “Who is lord of your life?” The battle was never really Nineveh or Tarshish. The battle was whether Jonah would do his will or God’s will.

God’s call exposed the place where knowing God and surrendering to God are not the same thing. Jonah could say, “I fear the Lord,” and still flee from the presence of the Lord. In the same way, a person can know the Bible, know right from wrong, know Jesus died on the cross, and still resist the direction of God. The real question is not, “Does this person know God?” The real question is, “Will this person surrender to that God?”

Jonah trusted his reasoning over God’s wisdom. Nineveh was wicked, dangerous, and cruel, and Jonah did not want mercy to reach them. His logic argued against God’s will, but God’s thoughts are not human thoughts. God’s plan often requires simple obedience before understanding shows up. Faith obeys, even when it does not know where the road is going.

The storm, the sailors, and the fish all show that God’s mercy keeps pursuing a running soul. Jonah thought he was escaping God’s presence, but God saw him on the ship, sent the storm, and prepared the fish. God was not trying to destroy Jonah. God was stopping him from running. The storm came from love.

Jonah’s turning point came when his soul fainted within him and he remembered the Lord. That was not just running out of breath. That was resistance letting go. God was looking for surrender before deliverance, and once Jonah surrendered, God spoke to the fish. The fish vomited him up on dry land, but nothing changed until Jonah stopped fighting God.

The call lands on the soul with urgency. Jesus is not only Savior to be thanked, but Lord to be obeyed. “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” The path of blessing begins where the heart says, “Not my will. Thy will be done.”

Key Takeaways

1. Submission is the real battle. [34:11] Jonah was not choosing between two cities as much as two authorities. Tarshish was only the outward direction of an inward refusal. The deepest fight is not the habit, the pressure, or the circumstance, but the heart that still wants the final word. God’s lordship presses into the place where obedience costs more than religious talk. [34:11]
2. Knowing God is not surrendering. [31:39] Jonah could say he feared the Lord while running from the Lord. That makes his rebellion more searching, because spiritual language can sit right beside a resistant will. A person can know what is right, recognize God’s hand, and still refuse God’s path. The mercy of God calls for more than confession with the mouth, it calls for a yielded life. [31:39]
3. God’s mercy is not permission. [01:00:09] Jonah knew God was gracious, merciful, and slow to anger, but slowness is not approval. Delayed judgment is not God looking the other way. Mercy gives space to turn before the storm has to speak louder. The soul that mistakes patience for permission may find that love will still interrupt the runaway path. [60:09]
4. Surrender comes before deliverance. [01:05:23] Jonah was not delivered when he bought the ticket, boarded the ship, or slept through the storm. Deliverance came after his resistance broke and his soul remembered the Lord. God was not waiting for Jonah to manage the crisis better, but to stop fighting. The fish became the place where surrender opened the door to mercy. [65:23]
5. Reach for Jesus before the bottle. [51:47] The old habit promises a quick edge off, but it trains the soul to run from God in the hour of pressure. Trusting God means learning a new way to handle stress, betrayal, anger, and fear. The peace of God is not a theory to admire, but a refuge to choose before the old bondage gets another foothold. Freedom has to be filled with faith, not left empty for the enemy to move back in.

## [51:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[23:57] - Jonah Chapter One Reading
[27:27] - Who Is Lord Of Your Life?
[29:35] - The Real Story Is Not The Fish
[31:18] - Jonah Confesses He Fears The Lord
[34:11] - The Issue Is Submission
[39:52] - When Jonah’s Soul Fainted
[42:26] - Nineveh Or Tarshish Was Not The Battle
[47:27] - Deny Yourself And Trust God
[49:08] - Jonah’s Reasoning Against Nineveh
[57:59] - Still Alive By God’s Mercy
[64:46] - Surrender Before Deliverance
[67:49] - God Pursued Jonah With Love
[70:42] - What Storm Is Getting Attention?
[82:49] - Nothing Changes Until Surrender

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Jonah 1:1-3 (KJV)
Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

Observation Questions

What specific command did God give Jonah, and how did Jonah respond initially?
The sermon emphasizes that Jonah "feared the Lord" yet still fled ([31:39]). What contradictions do you see between his words and actions?
How did God intervene to redirect Jonah’s path (e.g., storm, fish)? What does this reveal about His character?

Interpretation Questions

Why might someone who knows God’s character (like Jonah) still resist obeying Him? How does this mirror struggles people face today?
The sermon states, "The battle was never really Nineveh or Tarshish" but about "two authorities" ([34:11]). How does this reframe the root issue of disobedience?
Jonah trusted his reasoning over God’s wisdom ([48:03]). Why is human logic often at odds with God’s plans, and how does faith bridge that gap?

Application Questions

Where in your life are you choosing "Tarshish" (your own will) over "Nineveh" (God’s call)? What makes surrender in that area difficult?
The sermon warns that "knowing God is not surrendering" ([31:39]). How can you move from intellectual belief to active obedience in a specific area this week?
What "storm" or recurring struggle might God be using to get your attention? What would it look like to stop resisting and surrender in that situation?
The phrase "reach for Jesus before the bottle" ([51:47]) highlights replacing old habits with trust. What practical step can you take to turn to God first in moments of stress or temptation?
Surrender often precedes deliverance ([01:05:23]). Is there a situation where you’ve been waiting for God to act while still holding onto control? How might you release it?
How can you cultivate a heart that says, "Not my will, but Yours" in daily decisions (e.g., relationships, work, finances)?

Sermon Clips

47s

#SurrenderBeforeDeliverance

“``I know some of didn't want to hear that. I know you didn't want hear that but I'm going have to say it again. God's expecting surrender before deliverance. God, I need you to pay my bills. God, I need a new place to stay. God, I need a new car. My car just broke down. God, I need a new job. I need a new place to stay. God, I need deliverance. before this deliverance, there's gonna be surrender. I give you everything, lord. I belong to you, lord god. I'm the sheep of your pasture. I'm of your flock. See, James said, submit yourselves therefore to god. Hebrews says, today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

76s

#WhoIsLordOfYourLife

“What do you think he's gonna do for you? If god's gotta touch your health, he's gonna touch your health. If god's gotta touch your job, he'll touch your job. Whatever it takes, you see what we wanna know this morning, who is lord of your life? That's what we're gonna look at this morning. The battle was not Nineveh or Tarshish. That was not the choice. That was not the battle. From the very beginning, the word of the lord came to Jonah and said, go to Nineveh and two verses later, but Jonah went to Tarshish. That's the battle. See, someone on the line, Jonah chose his will over god's will. The battle begins in the heart. Now, the word of lord came to Jonah, arise. Go to Nineveh. Then later on, we see but Jonah rose to flee on the Tarshish. God said, go and no, Jonah said, no. The battle was never about geography. It was about authority. Who has the authority to tell you what to do? Who has the authority to call you and check? I said, that's not the way you're supposed to be going.”

40s

#ChooseHisWill

“But my question is, if you have all this kind of knowledge, why do you keep going in the direction you're going? See, the issue here with Jonah and with us today is submission. Jonah was not choosing between Nineveh and Tarshish. That was not the choice. The choice was whether he would do his will or god's will. And isn't that the choice we have today? Isn't that the choice we are all struggling with today? The same battle has been fought.”

51s

#LetGoAndSurrender

“What does it mean he fainted? That's when the battle was lost. Up to that point, he was fighting the very will of god but at that point, he realized that it's either god's will or I'm finished. I I must let go. That was the time he stopped fighting gods. And when my soul faint within me, I remembered the lord. This was not just Jonah running out of breath. This was not Jonah just having the series wrapped around his face. This was his resistance letting go. Letting go and letting god. His understanding at last, god, I'm gonna do your will.”

56s

#GodPursuesYou

“God's pursuits will follow you where I can't follow you. I went to go visit somebody trying to help them out, didn't answer the door. I hurt people on the inside. If you don't want to answer the door, I'm not going to stand there and beg and beat the door. I'll just turn around, get back in my car, and go on about my business. But there is a god in heaven. on out. There is a god in heaven and if we look here, see the word of god said, god pursued Jonah, pursued him with the storm, pursued with the sailors, pursued him with the fish. God loved his prophet but at some point, he had to stop him from running. God's discipline proved. He's going to keep on going. See, Hebrews says, whom the lord loveth, he chasten it. That storm came from love.”

66s

#ReachForJesus

“Every time there's problem in the family, every time there's stress in the job, I gotta come home. One person said, and I gotta get a little drink. Just kind of take the edge off. But you keep on building habit of taking that edge off. You're becoming an alcoholic. And so when I tell people, when the stars having problems and you can't sleep and stress get into you, before you reach for that bottle, reach for Jesus. Before you reach for that bottle, reach for Jesus. But if I reach for god who said, I'm still stressed. No. He gives a peace that passes. What? Come on now. All understanding. Well, I don't see how that's gonna work. He never said you had to see it. He never said you had to understand it. God never promised you a blueprint, a plan of everything that he's getting ready to do. All god said was trust him and walk the line. He tells you to walk and so we've gotta stop thinking, I know more than god. And you gotta learn to trust in god.”

42s

#ThyWillNotMine

“You see, the problem we have with many people is that they don't want to surrender. If I tell you, he's a good god, oh they'll shout with me. When I tell you, he's the king of kings and the lord of lords. Amen. Oh, hallelujahs. When I tell you, he can pay your bills. God can help you get a better job. When I begin to share with people, he can heal. He can provide. He can make a way. They want to shout to me then. Y'all don't have in church with me this morning. But wouldn't I tell you? Not my will. Thy will be done. That's where I lose a whole lot of peoples.”

55s

#TrustAndObey

“See, sometime we try to think around god or think for god. Human wisdom will often argue against god's will and that's why god had to tell him in Isaiah 55, for my thoughts are not your thoughts. My thoughts are not your thoughts. God's plan often requires us to just obey. He says, trust. We've we've seen the song for many years. You have to trust and obey. I still like that song. We ought to sing that song some more. Trust and obey. See, faith obeys. When it understands. Hebrews eleven eight says, and Abraham obeyed, not knowing whether he went. God was telling to go to a place. He didn't know where he was going but the greatest thing about Abraham, he trusted god nonetheless.”

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New Testament Christian Church - Irving, TX This sermon · AI assistant

What does it mean to surrender to God?

Why does God allow storms to pursue us?

When does deliverance follow genuine surrender to God?

Choosing God's will over Your Will!

Devotional

Day 1: When the Storm Reveals Your Running

Day 2: The Fish Isn’t Your Enemy

Day 3: The Lie of “Partial Surrender”

Day 4: Mercy Chases Harder Than Storms

Day 5: Deliverance Begins When You Faint

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Choosing God's will over Your Will!

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