November 7, 2023

Rhonda Patterson
“This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 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.’”
Jeremiah 29:10-11

While verse 11 is undoubtedly very beloved and often used, I love to include verses 12-14. “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and bring you back from captivity.”

This entire passage is rich with promise. Yes, God has plans for each of us. His plans are never for our harm but rather our good. He promises a future with hope. Our part? He tells us to pray to Him, to seek Him with all of our hearts, and we will find Him. It’s easy to be distracted by things around us, not necessarily bad things, but they can hinder us from pursuing Jesus above all. When He is our number one priority, we position ourselves in a deep place of surrender, and good things happen. He brings us back from where we’ve been captive, restores us, and sets us free. Glory to God

Lord, help us to seek you above all things in every circumstance. You are for us and so worthy of all of our devotion.