Read My Thoughts
Today’s Verse:
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. ~Jeremiah 29:11
Our devotion this morning is on one of the greatest and most encouraging promises of God. It is a promise that strengthens our faith, stabilizes our confidence, and gives us hope for our future. It is a promise that teaches us that difficult and trying circumstances will always accomplish God’s best purpose for our life. When difficulties come our way, we tend to think of the worst that will happen and lose sight of the fact that God has good thoughts for us. This morning, God is calling on us to read His thoughts.
We see the comfort.
God has thoughts of peace for us, and not of evil. God’s will for His children is always God’s best. The Jews were taken captive to Babylon. God told them that they should build houses, have their children marry, and bear children in Babylon. He told them that they would be there for a long time and that they should live with long-term plans in mind. However, He also told them that after 70 years, they would resettle in Jerusalem. God comforted them by telling them that He had thoughts of peace, to give them an expected end. The expected end is that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose. Find comfort this morning that God has thoughts of peace for you.
We see the compelling.
“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” Since God’s expected end for us involves our peace, we now have a compelling motive to pray for an even mightier working of God in our lives. It had been a long time since the Jews prayed earnestly for God to do something extraordinary. When we see the mercies of God at work by bringing us to an expected end that we do not deserve, we should be moved to ask God in faith to open the windows of Heaven and pour us out a blessing. God promises to answer us and do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
We see the completion.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Once God’s people seek Him out with all their heart, God brings His wonderful plan to completion. For the Jews, the completion of His plan was bringing them back to Jerusalem from all the nations they were scattered to.
God gave us these precious promises in Jeremiah 29:11-13 so that we could know His mind. We can read His thoughts for us. His thoughts are that we will call upon Him and seek Him with all our heart. This means having complete faith and trust in His plan, His promises, and His power. He promises us peace, that we may have an expected end. Read His thoughts!
Have a peaceful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Genesis 43-45