Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 27-31

“Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord. “I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him. Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Mark well the path by which you came. Come back again…” – Jeremiah 31:20-21

I think these verses sum up well the prophecies of Jeremiah. Because God loves, he punishes. Because He is our Father, he longs for us to respond to punishment so He can have mercy on us. He wants us to find our way back to Him. This is why Jesus died on the cross for us, in order that we could experience forgiveness and restoration. This is why He rose again – to give us hope for our future!

Jeremiah is a difficult book to read. It’s hard to hear chapter after chapter of the painful consequences God’s people suffered due to their sin and unfaithfulness. But there are several chapters here in the middle of Jeremiah that speak strongly of God’s love and His mercy – of HOPE FOR THE FUTURE of God’s people.

“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 29:11

This is one of my favorite verses – one of my life verses. When we take this verse and study the context of the time in which it was originally spoken, it does not take away from its meaning but rather enhances how we can apply this verse to our lives.

God’s people had been unfaithful generation after generation, and He was handing them over to the King of Babylon as a consequence of their sin. After bringing them into the promised land of Canaan, after 40 years of wandering in the desert and then dwelling among them in the beautiful temple Solomon built, God was taking away His gift and sending them into exile for a period of 70 years as a punishment for their sins. That would be like someone returning today after being exiled in 1949.

At the time Chapter 29 was written, the attack on Judah and Jerusalem had been going on for years. Thousands of the Israelites had already been captured and exiled to Babylon, but many like Jeremiah were imprisoned in the heart of Jerusalem while the attack on the city continued. After years of proclaiming the MESSAGE of PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES, now God had a MESSAGE of HOPE for His people. God wanted them to know He loved them, and that their time of pain and suffering would not last forever – that He had a plan to bring them back, a plan to bless their lives once again.

Let’s read through these verses of hope and allow God to speak to our hearts. To get the full message, I encourage you to read through Jeremiah 29-31. I have pulled a few verses and phrases that speak to my heart. I pray that as you read them the Spirit will fill you with the message God has for you today.

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce…Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper…”

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious 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 upon 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…” – Jeremiah 29:5,7,10-14a, NIV

“I will restore…For I will bring you home again…For I am with you and will save you…I will give you back your health and heal your wounds…There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving and I will multiply my people, not diminish them…You will be my people and I will be your God.” – Jeremiah 30:3,10,11,17,19,22

I love this part! Even in the midst of suffering, God promises His people that they will find blessings:

“Those who survive the coming destruction will find blessings even in the barren land, for I will give rest to the people of Israel…I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. You will be happy again and dance merrily with your tambourines…Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care….The Lord, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock…Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone…I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing…Do not weep any longer…There is hope for your future,” says the Lord…”For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” – Jeremiah 31:2-4,9-10, 12-13, 16-17, 25, NLT

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE. This is the message that we speak to the men and women who come to the Pregnancy Resource Center. It is a message for those who have walked away from God’s perfect plan and are wondering what comes next. There are often natural consequences to our sin, to a life of doing what we want to do instead of following God’s plan for our lives. But God’s plan does not go away! When we seek Him with our whole hearts, we will find Him! Even in the midst of suffering the results of our sin, God will be with us and we will see His blessings in our lives. He will restore us and bring us joy. He has a plan.

It’s time to stop resisting God’s plan for our lives. If you seek Him, He will be found and there will be HOPE for your future. Lord, I thank you for the hope you give us even in the darkest of situations. I thank you for your love for us that is revealed when you restore and renew us. Thank you for being the God who gives rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing. Help us to trust you and find hope for our future. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 23-26

After 23 years of proclaiming the message of repentance to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, Jeremiah made it clear to God’s people what was about to happen and why. He had been warning them to turn from the evil road they were traveling, to stop the evil things they were doing, and to quit provoking the anger of God, but they would not listen. Therefore, God was allowing King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to come in and destroy life as they knew it.

I will take away your happy singing and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard. Your millstones will fall silent, and the lights in your homes will go out. This entire land will become a wasteland. Israel and her neighboring lands will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. – Jeremiah 25:10-11

The Lord gave Jeremiah a vision of two baskets of figs sitting in front of the temple in Jerusalem. One basket was full of fresh, ripe figs; the other basket was filled with figs too rotten to eat. The first basket represented those who had been exiled to Babylon and God had a word of hope for them:

“I will watch over and care for them, and I will bring them back here again. I will build them up and not tear them down. I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them hearts that recognize me as the Lord. They will be my people and I will be their God, for they will return to me wholeheartedly.” – Jeremiah 24:6-7

The basket of rotten figs represented the king of Judah, his officials, and those left behind in Jerusalem or Egypt. God would make them an object of horror. They would be disgraced and mocked, taunted and cursed. They would experience war, famine, and disease. God had had enough!

“What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people — the shepherds of my sheep — for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,” says the Lord. – Jeremiah 23:1

After the 70 years of exile, God would gather His people together and give them new leaders — responsible shepherds who would care for them. But those who had led God’s people to this place of destruction would themselves be destroyed. This included the prophets who were claiming to speak the words of the Lord without hearing from God. They were saying, “God told me this” or “I heard from God and He said this” without taking the time to listen to what God wanted them to say. But God was listening to them carelessly run their mouths.

“Have any of these prophets been in the Lord’s presence to hear what he is really saying? Has even one of them cared to listen?…If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds. Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord. – Jeremiah 23:18, 22-24

We see clearly in these chapters that we serve a God of justice who is jealous when we serve something other than Him and who is angry when we are self-serving at the expense of others. He does not tolerate our misrepresentation of Him and He will not stand by and let leaders deceive His people — to destroy and scatter the very ones they are expected to care for.

But we also see in the book of Jeremiah that we serve a God of love and mercy who plans for the redemption of His people. He cares about us when we turn away from him; He pursues us for the sake of our salvation. Even as God was declaring the consequences of their sinful actions, He was unveiling His plan to redeem them through a Savior. Jeremiah’s message of hope for God’s people included prophecy regarding a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will rule with wisdom and his name will be “The Lord is Our Righteousness” (23:5-6).

“But if you stop your sinning and begin to obey the Lord your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against you.” – Jeremiah 26:13

This God we serve — the God of justice and the God of mercy — is a God of forgiveness if we will only repent and begin living in obedience. He is a jealous God because He is a loving God. This God of punishment is also the God who would leave the ninety-nine to go in pursuit of the one who is lost. What a privilege it is to serve this God! What a joy it is to share my morning coffee with one who loves me that much!

Today’s Reading: Daniel 3; Psalms 2, 26

King Nebuchadnezzar’s response to God revealing the meaning of his dream was to acknowledge that Daniel’s God is the greatest of gods. This was the problem. He did not recognize God as the ONLY true God, just that He was the Most High of all gods. He still did not accept that God was the only One to be worshipped.

In his arrogance, Nebuchadnezzar made a 90 foot by 90 foot statue made of gold out in the province where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in leadership (the base of this statue would have been much bigger than a basketball court). He commanded that everyone bow and worship this statue.

Once more, these three young men were given the opportunity to choose excellence, even when faced with the possibility of death. King Nebuchadnezzar may not have recognized who the only true God is, but these young men did. Their new positions of authority and power did not boast their pride but they remained humbly faithful to their God. They refused to bow to the statue.

COURAGE — evidence of their excellence in their actions

Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in, Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” – Daniel 3:13-15

It did not take long for these three young Hebrew men to answer this question for they knew without a doubt what god would be able to rescue them. They knew what it was to be taken from their home and family only to become a possession of the king. They knew what it was to have their home country destroyed and to be forced to live in exile in a foreign country. God had proven himself faithful and they had the courage to stand boldly in their faith in God.

STRENGTH — evidence of their excellence in their character

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will NEVER serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18

This has been one of my favorite testimonies of faith since I was a little girl and it remains extremely powerful to me today. EVEN IF God doesn’t answer their prayer as they have requested, they will serve God and only God. In good times and difficult times, in the triumphs but also during the struggles, we have the opportunity to praise God!

In anger, Nebuchadnezzar heated the furnace seven times hotter than usual. In arrogance, this king had Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego bound and thrown into the furnace. In shock, he watched as four men walked around the fire unbound and unharmed! In response, Nebuchadnezzar ordered them to step out of the fire. In amazement, he took note that their hair was not singed, their clothing was not scorched and they did not even smell like smoke!

Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God…There is no other god who can rescue like this!” – Daniel 3:28-29

As the climate of our culture continues to intensify, what will our response be? I pray that we are able to be strong and courageous as we refuse to put anything ahead of our worship of God. I pray that we speak boldly of the righteousness of God and His call to the excellence produced in our lives by Jesus Christ.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Today’s Reading: Daniel 2, 2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 36

Tell me what I dreamed and what it means – this was the unreasonable demand of King Nebuchadnezzar to the wise men of Babylon. When they were unable to do this, he ordered their execution. When the officers came to kill Daniel, he handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked for more time then went to his friend Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) and asked them to pray.

He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said,

“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength.
You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.” – Daniel 2:18-23

So, when faced with a difficult situation, a matter of life or death, Daniel gathered his friends together and they prayed for God’s intervention. Then, when God answered their prayer, Daniel first took time to praise God, acknowledging the source of all wisdom, power, knowledge and strength.

PRAYER and PRAISE – two of the main ingredients to Daniel’s success, to his excellence.

God revealed the dream and its meaning to Daniel, who in turn gave God all the glory explaining to the king why God was revealing this dream. Daniel in essence said – What you have asked is impossible, but nothing is impossible for God. God doesn’t have to explain this dream to you or reveal the future to you, but He has because God wants you to understand what is in your heart (2:27-30).

Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court. – Dan. 2:48-49

Now these four young Jewish men in captivity were being entrusted with even more. These young men of excellence were faithful to God and God was enlarging their territory.

OPPORTUNITY and ADVANCEMENT – two of the results of their faith, of their excellence.

What are you asking for today? Does your faith in God hinge on whether or not He answers your prayer your way? Prayer and praise – these two ingredients of Daniel’s faith are available to us. Are we prepared to praise God no matter how He answers our prayer? Do we trust the heart of God enough to trust His hand? Are we living out the excellence that God is producing within us?

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Today’s Reading: Daniel 1, Jeremiah 20-22

Are you ready? A new season is ahead for us. God has a plan for each of us in the coming days but are we prepared for the opportunities He has before us? We have been chosen for a specific purpose. The future is unknown but we know whom we serve. What do we need to do TODAY to be ready for what He has for us TOMORROW? Let’s look at four young men who had no idea what was ahead for them yet were prepared to be used by God in a powerful way.

When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel remained in the royal service until the first year of the reign of King Cyrus. – Daniel 1:18-21

What an incredible opportunity this was for these four young Jewish men. Jerusalem had been attacked and God’s people had been brought to Babylon where they would spend the next 70 years in exile. These Jewish families were allowed to live in peace and comfort in this new country but it did not take away the daily realization that they were most definitely in captivity. They could not leave and go home – they were strangers in a strange land.

THEY WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY WERE READY.

The king ordered his chief of staff to bring to the palace some of the young men from Judah’s royal family and other noble families who were strong, healthy, and good-looking, as well as knowledgeable in every branch of learning – gifted with knowledge and good judgment (Daniel 1:3-4). These young men did not have to suddenly prepare themselves for this opportunity; it was given them because they were ready. They had spent their time learning and listening. They were already healthy and strong. They were ready, therefore they were chosen.

THEY REMEMBERED TO WHOM THEY BELONGED.

Now that they were in royal service to the king, he wanted their loyalty. He renamed them after Babylonian gods in order to redefine them. Daniel’s name meant “God is my judge” but the chief of staff renamed him Belteshazzar, “Bel protects his life.” Hananiah meant “the Lord is grace” but he was given the name Shadrach, “command of Aku”. Mishael, “who is God?” became Meshach “who is Aku?” Azariah, “the Lord helps”, became Abednego, “servant of Nebo” (1:7). Nebuchadnezzar was trying to redefine them but these young men never lost track of the God to whom they truly belonged – who was their judge, who defined “grace”, who would tell them what to do and who would help them.

THEY CHOSE EXCELLENCE, SO GOD MADE THEM EXCELLENT.

The king wanted their loyalty so he treated all of the young men very well. They were given fine wine and delicious foods to eat, but the meats prepared were probably unclean by Jewish standards, such as pork. The custom in Babylon was to dedicate their wine to their gods so drinking the wine would have been disloyal to God.

This royal treatment was a way for King Nebuchadnezzar to win the loyalty of all of these young men. They were given a taste of what the world had to offer them, what the king could give them if they were loyal to him. Everyone else compromised their standards but these four young men remained loyal to the God of Israel. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah chose a more excellent way, denying themselves the rich foods and choosing vegetables and water instead (1:8-16).

God blessed their faithfulness by making them men of excellence. God gave these young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams (Daniel 1:17). No one impressed King Nebuchadnezzar more than these four young men. They were found to be ten times more capable than any of the others. They were found to be men of excellence.

I want to be a woman of excellence. That is my prayer. I want to be prepared for the opportunities God sends my way. I want to prepare myself – both physically and intellectually – so that I am ready to be used by God. When the world tries to win my loyalty, I want to remember to whom I belong and who is my judge, choosing what God has to offer me instead of what the world has to offer. When difficult times come, I want to remember the grace of God and that He is the One who will help me. I want to be ready.

I CHOOSE EXCELLENCE!

God calls us to excel in who we are and in what we do, in our character and our actions. “Whatever you do, do well…” (Eccl. 9:10). Our pursuit of excellence cannot be of human effort for that will quickly become our own obsession for earthly significance. With excellence as our goal and our eyes focused on Jesus, the Spirit can work in us to produce character and spiritual maturity.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God. – Philippians 1:11

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 15-19

I never joined the people in their merry feasts. I sat alone because your hand was on me. I was filled with indignation at their sins. Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry. – Jeremiah 15:17-18

At times the Lord allows us to distance ourselves from our “Judah” — the disaster that has formed around us due to sinful decisions and arrogant, godless living. We get to walk away and let them suffer the consequences of their sin, while we get to enjoy the blessings of choosing righteousness. But at times, God calls us to stay in “Jerusalem” and be used by Him in the lives of those who need to know there is hope in Christ. We know from Scripture that sometimes God’s children go through times of suffering, even when they are following God’s will for their lives.

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. – 2 Corinthians 6:4-5

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. – 2 Tim. 3:12

So, if following God does not guarantee us a life of peace, why do we continue to serve Him?

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name. O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. – Jeremiah 15:16

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. – 2 Timothy 2:10-12a

If we keep our eyes focused on Him during the difficult times, enduring the hardship of the calling He has placed on our lives, we will reign with Him! There is a wonderful reward for those who love God!

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12

I WILL BLESS YOU. I WILL GIVE YOU JOY.

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. – 1 Peter 1:6

…Be very glad – for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. – 1 Peter 4:13

I am going to stir a second helping of the words of God to Jeremiah into my morning coffee and choose to be glad no matter what the circumstances:

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8

Lord, in you we put our trust. There are some who are reading this devotional who are going through a really difficult time. But you, O God, know everything about us. You knew us when you formed us in our mother’s womb and you know us now. You search our hearts and you know our struggles. You know our desire to serve you and you know our desire to experience your goodness. We pray that you will fill our hearts today with your hope and confidence. We pray that you will see the desires of our heart and fill us with what you desire for our lives. Bring us to a point of being in sync with the beat of your heart, for we love you more than we love the comforts of this world. We desire to chase after your perfect plan for our lives. Please give us joy in our pursuit of you as we claim your promises this morning:

I know you.
I will watch over you.
I am on the move.
I will answer you.
I am with you.
I will give you joy.

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 10 – 14

Why do bad things happen to good people? Have you ever gone through a difficult time or a time of persecution and wondered why God was allowing difficult times in your life? Have you ever suffered physical pain or disease or watched a loved one struggle with cancer and wonder why God does not heal all of His faithful children?

Jeremiah was called by God to proclaim to the people of Judah their future destruction and captivity. Although intimidated by God’s call on his life, Jeremiah was obedient and listened to God, passing on each message the Lord gave him. Yet, as we read through the book of Jeremiah, we see that life was not easy for him. We can imagine that his message was less than popular for it was extremely harsh. For example, listen to these words of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah:

“For I will upset the careful plans of Judah and Jerusalem. I will allow the people to be slaughtered by invading armies, and I will leave their dead bodies as food for the vultures and wild animals. I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, making it a monument to their stupidity. All who pass by will be astonished and will gasp at the destruction they see there. I will see to it that your enemies lay siege to the city until all the food is gone. Then those trapped inside will eat their own sons and daughters and friends. They will be driven to utter despair.” – Jeremiah 19:7-9

As you can imagine, Jeremiah’s message did not get a resounding “Amen” or “Preach it, brother!” Instead he was persecuted, plotted against, arrested, mocked, flogged, whipped, put it stocks and placed on trial. When Jerusalem was attacked, Jeremiah’s life was in danger as well. When the people of Judah were led into exile, Jeremiah was also taken captive.

Listen to these words of Jeremiah and God’s response to His faithful servant:

Jeremiah: “What sorrow is mine, my mother. Oh, that I had died at birth! I am hated everywhere I go.”

God: “I WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU, Jeremiah.” (Jer. 15:10-11)

Jeremiah: “Lord, you know what’s happening to me. Please step in and help me…I bear your name…Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook, like a spring that has gone dry.”

God: “I AM WITH YOU to protect you and rescue you…I will certainly keep you safe…I will rescue you…” (Jer. 15:15-21)

Jeremiah: “Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble!” (Jer. 16:19)

I am so thankful for a God who knows us, who watches over us, and who answers us when we call. He is with us when things are going great and He is with us when life is at its toughest. What a joy it is have the Lord as our hope and confidence.

God: “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8)

Jeremiah: “O Lord, if you heal me, I will truly be healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!” (Jer. 17:14)

What a beautiful testimony of faith! Lord, we give you everything we are facing right now. We ask for you to be our strength when we are weak and our fortress when we need protection. Lord, please be our refuge in our day of trouble. We trust in you and rest on your riverbank, rooted in you and growing in our faith.

Today’s Reading: Habakkuk 2-3, Psalm 69

I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me. – Psalm 69:3

Habakkuk was struggling with God’s plan. God was using the growing strength of the Babylonian nation to punish His people. The Babylonians were taking over much of the region, including Ninevah and the Assyrian nation. This idolatrous nation was growing in power and pressing in on the nation of Judah. With a sincere heart, Habakkuk made his struggles known to God and asked God for answers.

“O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal – surely you do not plan to wipe us out?
O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins.
But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery?
Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?
Are we only fish to be caught and killed? Are we only sea creatures that have no leader?
Must we be strung up on their hooks and caught in their nets while they rejoice and celebrate?
Then they will worship their nets and burn incense in front of them.
‘These nets are the gods who have made us rich!’
Will you let them get away with this forever?
Will they succeed forever in their heartless conquests?
I will climb up on my watchtower and stand at my guardpost.
There I will wait to see what the Lord says and how he will answer my complaint.” – Habakkuk 1:12-2:1

God’s answer: My judgment may seem slow in coming but wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Those that are being taken captive will one day taunt and mock their captors as they get what they deserve (2:3,6).

“For as the waters fill the sea, the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.” – Habakkuk 2:14

Habakkuk responded in song, praising God and praying for mercy for God’s people. Let’s use his song in Habakkuk 3 as we lift our voices to our Sovereign Lord this morning:

Lord, we have heard all about you and we are filled with awe by your amazing works. In our time of deepest need, help us again just as you have in years past. In your anger, remember your mercy.

We see YOU moving!!! Your brilliant splendor fills the heavens and the earth is filled with your praise. Your coming is as brilliant as the sunrise. Rays of light flash from your hands, where your awesome power is hidden. You are the Eternal One!

Was it in anger that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation! Lord, may your action save us and save our nation instead of destroying us for our sins. Oh God, we trust in you!

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines;
Even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren;
Even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights. – Habakkuk 3:17-19

The Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over. – Psalm 12:6

Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful.
Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful. – Psalm 69:16

Today’s Reading: Habakkuk 1, Psalm 14, 22

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Why are you so far away when I groan for help? – Psalm 22:1

Approximately five years after Zephaniah starting prophesying to God’s people, God called Habakkuk to do the same. As we read the book of Habakkuk, we are listening in on a conversation between the prophet and his God. He dares to ask God tough questions – Why does God allow injustice? Does He even care? Why does He tolerate evil? Is God really in control?

These verses minister to my soul for I have asked some of these same questions. Why is sin celebrated? When did abortion become a fundamental right? How did sex become such a dominant addiction in our society? Where is God in all of this? Who is speaking the truth? What hope is there for future generations?

God saw the honest heart of the prophet and took time to give him answers – answers that show our God is sovereign!

How long, O Lord, must I call for help?
But you do not listen!
“Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save.
Must I forever see these evil deeds?
Why must I watch all this misery?
Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence.
I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight.
The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts.
The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted. – Habakkuk 1:2-4

Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me. – Psalm 22:11

Have you ever prayed a similar prayer? I definitely have, especially in recent days. Watching the daily news can be aggravating and I ask God where He is at in all of it. I foolishly ask Him to see all of the sorrow and injustice around the world, as if He isn’t already looking. I tell Him my heart is breaking, as if His heart isn’t more broken than mine. I ask Him where He is and if He is listening, as if God doesn’t see all and know all and love more than I am capable of.

“Look around at the nations; look and be amazed!
For I AM DOING SOMETHING in your own day,
something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.” – Habakkuk 1:5

God’s answer: Look around! There is evidence of my movement all around! I am never without a plan. Don’t try to fix the world around you of your own strength – trust in ME. Look for ME and seek MY plan. Be willing to do what I ask you, instead of depending on yourself. Be a part of MY plan instead of forcing your own.

Lord, our hearts are breaking this morning over the evidence of evil all around us. We cannot put our hope in government officials, for they make decisions based on their own agendas and redefine what is moral and what is not. We cannot put our hope in people for the epidemic of sinful choices is too great for man to overcome. You are our only hope. Lord, give us eyes to see the woundedness among us but also give us hearts to see your activity all around us. Help us to trust that you are DOING SOMETHING — that you are watching, that you are moving, that you are responding. Lord, hear our cries and give us a willingness to be a part of your solution. Amen.

Praise the Lord, all who fear him! Honor him…Show him reverence…For he has not ignored the or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but has listened to their cries for help. – Psalm 22:23-24

Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 5-9

I WILL WATCH OVER YOU.

To fully understand God’s plans to punish His people, we need to read the book of Jeremiah and the words God spoke to him as he warned the people of what was to come and why it was happening. Let’s look at the heartbreak of our God as He describes the unfaithfulness of the people He has blessed generation after generation and consider how His words apply today:

“I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness…And when I brought you into a fruitful land to enjoy its bounty and goodness, you defiled my land and corrupted the possession I had promised you…My people have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols! The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay,” says the Lord. “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me — the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!…My people have forgotten me.” – Jeremiah 2:1,7, 11b-13, 32b

Out of His great mercy, God gave Israel the opportunity to do the following: Acknowledge your guilt, admit that you rebelled, confess that you refused to listen to my voice, return home and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

I WILL BRING YOU BACK HOME.

“I would love to treat you as my own children! I want nothing more than to give you this beautiful land – the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me ‘Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me.” – Jeremiah 3:12-15,19

Jeremiah’s advice is also good for us today. Surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord; cleanse your heart that you may be saved.

“My people are foolish and do not know me,” says the Lord. “They are stupid children who have no understanding. They are clever enough at doing wrong, but they have no idea how to do right!”…I hear a cry, like that of a woman in labor, the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child. It is beautiful Jerusalem gasping for breath and crying out, “Help! I’m being murdered!” – Jeremiah 4:4,14,22,31

“I, the Lord, define the ocean’s sandy shoreline as an everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set. But my people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and abandoned me. They do not say from the heart, ‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’” – Jer. 5:22b-24

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ I posted watchmen over you who said, ‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’ But you replied, ‘No! We won’t pay attention!’” – Jer. 6:16-17

“This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward…They have stubbornly followed their own desires.” – Jeremiah 7:23-24; 9:14

I DELIGHT IN SHOWING YOU UNFAILING LOVE.

This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!” – Jeremiah 9:23-24

Lord, help us this morning to truly know you and understand the depth of your unfailing love demonstrated for us day after day. May we be eager to please you today, drinking only from your fountain of living water for sustenance instead of depending on our own cracked cisterns. Lord, do a work in our hearts today deepening our understanding.

Lord, we confess our pride and self-reliance and long to live in awe of you who brings rain into our lives so that you might reap a harvest of righteousness. We long for you to use us so that our lives can have an impact on the nation in which we live, just as you used Jeremiah. Father God, help us to hear only your voice as we stand at the next crossroads. Give us wisdom from you and place your words in our mouths. Amen.