Have you come through a crisis – God is still with you and wants the best for you. THE BIGGEST LIE OF THE ENEMY, God has abandoned you and doesn’t care about you anymore.
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 A HOPE AND A FUTURE. Jeremiah 29
We read yesterday how Micah had prophesied to Israel and Judah the coming judgement of the Lord, BUT THE END OF THE BOOK SPOKE OF A FORGIVING AND FAITHFUL GOD.
Judah had been carried off to Babylon; no doubt it seemed a real disaster. It was a drastic action by God, but it seemed to be the only way to break the cycle of idolatry, worship of false gods, among His people. Events in our own time have changed the world we’re living in. The Lord has had to step in and rescue humanity from evil forces and people today and it’s still going on, but we have to trust Him to take us through to a new day.
In Jeremiah 29:11 we read three times of GOD’S PLANS FOR HIS PEOPLE IN EXILE. The people had lived through a major dislocation, it would have been be easy to think everything was lost. But God sent a letter from the prophet Jeremiah, all the way from Jerusalem, to encourage them and tell them what they should do next.
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Jeremiah 29
God told His people TO SETTLE IN THE PLACE WHERE HE’D BROUGHT THEM. They were to get on with their daily lives; BUILD, PLANT, MARRY AND INCREASE. Sometimes we want to ignore the reality of our lives, but God wants us to Flourish where we are; be a blessing there.
The expression “bloom where you’re planted” means a person should take advantage of the opportunities they have in their life and be grateful for the present situation.
God had moved Israel and it wasn’t going to be a Quick Fix, their people were going to be in exile for the next seventy years. God is always speaking to us and trying to draw us closer to Himself and His will for us. What’s His PLAN for the next phase of our lives? While we are still here on earth, God has HIS PLANS FOR OUR LIVES. Ask Him what He has for you; it may be more exciting than you imagine.
God bless and keep you today.