Daily Devotion 8/27/18
Jeremiah 29:10-14 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
This is a pretty incredible promise from God to his people. The Israelites had been overtaken by the Babylonians. The majority of Israel had been taken from their country and brought east to the country of Babylon to live and work for their country. Notice in God’s promise a couple of things: 1) God had a plan for the lives of the Israelites. 2) They were not to harm them but to prosper them. That might have been hard to believe as they looked around and saw that they were oppressed by the Babylonians. But through this process, Israel grew closer to God and in 70 years, God delivered them and brought them back to Jerusalem. Things may seem bleak today, maybe they have for a while, but know that God has plans for you. They are to prosper you and not to harm you. God is your good Father who loves and protects you, comforts and provides for you. Even in the dark times, he is there working for your good.
Father in heaven, thank you for being far wiser than me. Thank you for having a plan for my life and for working for my eternal good. I’m not sure what today will all bring; it may be bad. No matter what happens, help me to trust you in everything.