Direction

I have been reading Jonah this week and have been thinking about direction.  Jonah heard from God and then decided that he was going to head in the opposite direction.  He let his emotions drive his decision jumped on a ship and ran.  There is a verse that really stuck out for me in this book, and I believe it is a good reminder as I walk out each day.

 "Those who cling to worthless idols

   forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

 I have included it in context below as it is part of a much larger prayer that Jonah prayed as he struggled with his decision and eventually gave into God's will.

   “In my distress I called to the LORD,
   and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for help,
   and you listened to my cry.
³ You hurled me into the deep,
   into the very heart of the seas,
   and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
   swept over me.
⁴ I said, ‘I have been banished
   from your sight;
yet I will look again
   toward your holy temple.’
⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,
   the deep surrounded me;
   seaweed was wrapped around my head.
⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
   the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
   O LORD my God.
 ⁷ “When my life was ebbing away,
   I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
   to your holy temple.
 ⁸ “Those who cling to worthless idols
   forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
⁹ But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
   will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
   Salvation comes from the LORD.”