Passage of the Day:
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.[b] 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,” Jeremiah 29:10-14.
Reflection:
When I first became a Christian as a teenager, verse 11 was one of the most quoted passages shared with me by friends from high school and college. When you take an initially leap of faith, Romans 10:9-10, other Christians may offer their insight on where Holy Spirit may lead you. However, only God truly knows your future. While you may end up taking detours, getting lost and wasting years on your journey of faith, hopes provides the motivation to keep walking by faith. May other promises in the Bible give you hope for a brighter future.
Prayerful Action:
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him, Hebrews 11:6.
Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:
On New Year’s Day 2012, I was informed that I would be losing my job at the end of January. This shocking development forced me to reinvent myself in my early 40’s. The next 16 months were filled with uncertainty, darkness and pain. While at a Christian bookstore, a stranger came up to me and shared a prophecy about my life, similar to the words of Jeremiah 29. While I was skeptical, doubting something so good could ever come true, this prophecy was fulfilled after receiving a job and subsequent promotion with Amazon. As King Solomon once shared, although your plans may not be God’s plans, the Lord’s purpose prevails, Proverbs 19:21.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Life is a marathon filled with unexpected twists and turns. Yet, when you believe and cling to God’s promises in the Bible, hope for a brighter future will be conceived. This is where hope leads to perfect harmony.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 