Jeremiah 29
Dear RTB’ers,
A number of verses stand out for me today. First, But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (v. 7) Although Jeremiah was writing to the exiles in Babylon to pray for the city of Babylon, I think there’s a message for us when we find ourselves in any unhappy situation. We may not like the job that we have, the house in which we live, the local or national government over us, or any other situation in which we find ourselves. However, the Lord knows exactly where we are, exactly what our particular situation is. He allowed us to be exactly where we are, and He has His Holy Spirit indwelling us to make the best of our situation – actually, not to make the best of that situation, but to thrive in it. That is, pray for everything, every situation in which we are unhappy and ask the Lord to give us peace. He may even turn things around. Always our prayer needs to be, “Not my will, but Your will be done.”
The second set of verses follows directly from the first, including a few oft-quoted verses (esp. vv. 11 and 13): For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. (vv. 11-13) He knows the plans that He has for us. He knows where we are and where He wants us to be. It was a long, unhappy road that brought Carol and me to Kentucky. Come join us at our next RTB gathering on April 12 and I’ll tell you about it – a couple of major failures and a glorious deliverance. Thank you, Lord!!
Blessings.
See also: July 20 (2023) / Jeremiah 29.