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We need to spend a little more time in Jeremiah 29, because remember, God exiled the good and the bad. So, when you take a moment to look at the chaos of this life and you feel like God has sent you into Babylon, you have to know that “There’s More to Your Story”.
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:10-11 NLT
Now let’s focus on Jeremiah 29:11. The Message translation says it this way, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for”.
The KJV says it this way …11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
No matter the translation, from the moment that we took our first breath, there is nothing in our lives that has caught the Lord by surprise and from this moment forward with every breath we take, we must know that, “There’s More to Our Story”, because we know that God plans to give us….
<> a future and a hope
<> a future that you hope for
<> and an expected end.
In Isaiah (paraphrased), he says, as far as the heaven is from the earth are God’s thoughts from our thoughts and God’s ways from our ways. How He does, what He does will not make sense… but God is Still God.
But we can’t stop there, we must read a little further because there’s more to the story. Let’s take another look at verses 12-14.
12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes.
We may not have realized it, but God’s promise comes with an expectation, that we will pray and seek Him, in other words He wants our love and attention. We play a key role in our story. It’s unfortunate that, at times, we don’t want to believe that God has expectations of us, just as we have expectations of Him. I truly believe the He desires that we love Him as much as He loves us. But at times, we make it so complication, He simply wants to hear what on our hearts. Our prayers may sound something like this… “Good Morning Lord! I love you and I am so grateful for everything you do and will do. Please anoint me this day for whatever you have for me to do. In Jesus Name Amen”.
So, although it may look like Babylon and it may even feel like Babylon, there’s not only a miracle after this, there’s a miracle in this, no matter what your “this” looks like right now, because you know that “There’s More to Your Story!”
I pray that you will see Jeremiah 29:11 with a new spiritual perspective. May the eyes of our understanding continue to be enlightened.
The Holy Spirit is always talking, which is why we just need to find those quiet moments to listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying…
Order Your Steps 