Do you ever set intentions to dig deeper into the Bible, but find yourself not getting far? Or not starting at all? If so, you are not alone my friend. In the past, I've always found myself setting goals and then falling short of them when it comes to reading in general, including my Bible. Sometimes I'd forget, or I'd be too tired, or I didn't have "time".
The excuses piled up. The Lord has always been near and dear to my heart, but I'm human and I'm certainly not perfect. I wasn't doing everything I could possibly do to not only have a relationship with God, but to know his exact teachings. Yes, having faith and a relationship with him is what he calls us to do, but it doesn't stop there. We have to know his word in order to grow. In my eyes, it's no different then when you decide that you want to be a doctor or a teacher. You can't just go out into the field and expect to know how to become a doctor without the background knowledge of medicine, and everything else that comes with being a doctor. Or know how to manage a classroom or teach content effectively if you've never be taught or studied how to do so.
God has a purpose for each of us during every wakening moment of our lives, and right now, during this Pandemic, he is working amongst us in powerful ways. I came across a 30 Day Do Not Fear Bible Challenge, printed it out and committed myself to it. I will admit, it did take me more then 30 days, but each day I found myself focusing on something in the Word of God. I found myself craving even more of Gods word. Which has lead me to another 30 day reading challenge.
Jeremiah 29:11 was the verse for my study yesterday. It is a well known verse and one that we tend to apply to our lives when it comes to our career paths, marriage, etc. Before looking more into the verse, that was my interpretation, too. However, I have a new understanding of it, and I felt compelled to share it with you. So, I'm going to share right from my journal. I did not come to this finding all on my own, and some words are from another source which I will gladly share with you.
It's Not About You!
This story starts off by telling us these are the words spoken from Jeremiah to the elders of the exiles, and all the people from Israel that were taken into exile by Nebuchadnezzar. These words are of Gods to ALL the people who were held captive. They were put in captivity because of their sin and God wanted them to be content. He tells them to build a house and plant gardens. To take their wives and have children, and to seek welfare of the city.
This message was specifically written for a NATION that had been torn from its home to live in a foreign land. Gods plan was not to destroy the land, but to punish the Israelites for their wickedness and then restore them to their land. God was giving them a future and hope, with plans for welfare and not evil. He wanted, and still wants, to reconcile himself with a sinful world. "He wanted to restore humanity himself. Jesus has made a way for us to be saved and reconciled with the Father. This is his ultimate plan!
With that said, what we can take from Jeremiah 29:11, is that our God does have a plan for all of us. Just as the Israelites had to be confined, we too as a nation will have to do the same during our time here on Earth. Ultimately, this verse is merely not about us as individuals, but it tells us the plans and hope God has for us a whole!
How awesome is it that we serve a God that will take us out of our darkest places and restore us! I couldn't have come across this interpretation at a better time. We live in a time of uncertainty as nation, but God has brought us here for a reason. Instead of worrying and questioning God why, we must trust his plans. Fill our hearts with the word, focus on the good, and go about building a nation TOGETHER as the Lord intended it to be.
Blessings to you all!
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