[Faith-Talk] This was actually on YouVersion today.

[Judy Jones]

>From the Today's Guided Scripture section.

It speaks to the most recent discussions here. See below.

Watch Jeremiah 29:11 by Vance K. Jackson:

https://www.bible.com/en/videos/50841?orientation=portrait&utm_content=STORY_CLIP&utm_medium=SHARE&utm_source=YVAPP

The Best Plans
Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular verse that's often slapped onto journals, etched into coffee mugs, and printed on t-shirts.

"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 29:11 (NIV

And God does have a plan for you.
God does want to bless you.
God does want to give you hope and a future. 

But, we should also pay attention to the original context ...

In this case, God was speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah—people who'd recently been exiled to Babylon for 70 years. 

The Jewish people were banished to a foreign land because of their insatiable appetite for sin. In fact, for 23 years Jeremiah had been warning them to stop rebelling against God or prepare to face the consequences.

God is patient, but He is also just. 

In other words, the Jews were sent to timeout. And as you can read in the preceding chapters, God made a case against His beloved people ...

They'd exploited foreigners, orphans, and widows. They'd denied the rights of the poor. They'd refused to stand up for truth or obey God's instructions. They'd murdered the innocent and committed adultery. They'd rejoiced in doing evil and their lives were ruled by greed. They'd even built pagan shrines, sacrificing their sons and daughters in the fires. It was a dark time. And yet, somehow, God's mercy always extends to the darkest places on earth.

That's why, just a few verses later, God said they could seek Him and find Him, and He would bring them back from captivity (Jeremiah 29:13-14).

That's why he encouraged them—while in exile—to build houses, plant gardens, get married, have babies, and work for the peace and prosperity of their temporary home (Jeremiah 29:5-7).

He wanted them to know: He hadn't forgotten them. He still wanted good for them. He still had plans to restore them.

God is serious about sin, but He's just as passionate about redemption.

Though Jeremiah 29:11 was meant for a specific people at a specific time, God's heart for the restoration of broken people is generationally timeless. 

Even when we feel stuck in the process, God still has a plan. 
We can put our trust in the God whose goal is always redemption.

DEVOTIONAL
Adam

 "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7 KJV


 And the Lord God formed man. According to Strong's Concordance, the Hebrew word for, 'formed' found in Genesis 2:7 KJV, is (Hebrew characters) 'y_a*óar' (H3335) which means: "To form, fashion or to frame". God formed man from the dust of the ground. Before God planted the perfect Garden—in Eden as described in the next verse, Genesis 2:8  KJV—God formed man from the dust of the ground. Before the formation of the perfect garden—God formed man in imperfect conditions. He formed man from the dust of the ground. Before Eden man was formed. Before Eden was planted—man was formed. God gave man purpose before the platform. God formed man and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils before God formed a garden. May God breathe life into you as you read these words. God has given you life. He breathed His Breath into your soul. Before your platform is formed, before your Garden in planted—God forms and He breathes. He forms you. Postures you. Positions you. Develops you. And then He places you. Notice, the Garden wasn't formed when God created man. The Garden, or the platform, didn't exist until man was formed from the ground. Man wasn't formed from the Garden—he was formed from the ground. Your environment may not be perfect. You may not be in your garden—yet. But as God forms you from the dust—He breathes purpose into your life. God created Adam before the Garden. The Garden was not the Promise. It was a piece of the Promise. You were created from dust and when God forms you He breathes purpose into your soul. Before your placement—purpose is assigned. The Garden was formed to showcase the skills, gifts, and abilities that were breathed into Adam. Notice Genesis 2:8 KJV expands upon this very principle, "And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed." Man existed before the Garden and the Garden was a tool to showcase what was already in man. In fact, Genesis2:15 KJV puts it this way, "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it." God placed man in the Garden to "dress it and to keep it." God gave man a platform to demonstrate what was already inside of him. God designed man to dress and to keep.

Be Encouraged
God's goal is always redemption. No matter what you've done, you can turn to Him.

PRAYER
God, I know You have a plan for my life, and that You want to bless me. Help me lean into that promise and live a life that honors Y. Thank You for loving me—even when I struggle, and for paving the way to redemption. Fill me with Your hope and peace. In Jesus' name, Amen.


sent from Judy's Android braille tablet