Summary – Reflection – Prayer
To
God’s Word
While Walking it Out

Context: Jeremiah 29: 1-32
Focus: Jeremiah 29: 10-14

“This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good 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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. ^b I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” NIV

The Israelites were in exile from their land residing in Babylon. After seventy years God promises to bring them back to their homeland. His promise was a plan to prosper them and not harm them and to give them a hope and a future. Then the people would call on Him and pray, seeking Him with their whole heart and He would be found, restoring them back from their captivity.

Exile means being led captive in a foreign land. Everything in this land is unfamiliar and strange. Our circumstance can be such that we are in captivity with no way out.  Yet this is the very place God has placed us to restore us unto Himself.

Instead of seeking escape in this strange, uncomfortable circumstance, the Lord wants us to grow by learning to depend completely on Him. He wants us to develop Christ-like character as we come against the enemy in our midst.  Here, our swords (Word of God) will be sharpened, and we will learn submission, and how to wait on the Lord to do what only He can do.  This circumstance will restore us, with the knowledge of Who God is and Who we are and His purpose in relationship to Himself and with one another.
(1 Peter 4: 12-19)

Where there is no comfort nor rest, nor freedom to follow after our own desires,  His desire becomes our desire, to seek only His face where there is contentment, and hope. This is where the transformation takes place.
(Song of Solomon 8:5)

My prayer has been to be “real”. I’ve gone through the motions of Christianity long enough, imitating as best I could. But it hasn’t been enough.  In this weary and foreign land, I’am discovering, in everything and in all things, He is enough, He is more than enough.
“Lord, make me into your vessel, poured out, worthy of your praise, a conduit of your love, mercy and grace in Jesus’ Name”

I heard Him say, “Believe I am for you.”  ( Romans 8:28-39)