God's plans for you are good and full of hope - Jer. 29:11

The Prophet Jeremiah was writing this letter to those who had been exiled to Babylon.  They had been captured, their city and temple destroyed and they were trying to figure out how life would ever be normal again.  He was sending them (the "you" is plural) hope as a community that God had not left them, they were still His and His plans for them were still good, even in captivity.

What are we being held captive to and have we lost hope that life will ever be good again?  We might be held captive to unforgiveness...anything that binds us up and prevents us from resting in God's promises is a danger.  We take judgment upon ourselves when judgment is God's alone.

We might be held captive to ambition or greed...we can't see beyond the next addition to our money pile.

We might be held captive to our identity in our families...if they succeed that means we have value.

We might be held captive to our cell phones...are you texting more than you are reading God's word?

We might be held captive by material possessions...we must have one more purchase.

2 Cor. 3:17 says: "Now the Lord is the spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."  These words said by Jeremiah to the captives in Babylon are true to us today if we are free in the person of Jesus Christ.  Whether in trial or feast, His plans for you for just that good.  Listen to the verse following vs. 11:

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me,

and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find

me when you seek me with all your heart."

 

His plans for us are good and full of hope, but we must seek Him and strive to not be bound up by worldly things. Our society would seek to hold us captive to their ways and their values...it may be easier to be held captive today than it ever has been.  We must be intentional about the things we allow to permeate our thoughts and our minds.  "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matt. 6:33)

 

For further study:  Deu. 6:5, Ps. 30:5, Ps. 33:11, Psalm 112:7,  Isaiah 42:7, Isaiah 46:11,Romans 6:18, 2 Cor. 12:9,  Hebrew 11:39-40, Hebrews 12:1-3

 

Be blessed in your understanding of God's word.

 

Love,

Holly