Today’s Reading: Jeremiah 29; Psalm 37
WHAT IF THIS IS THE YEAR THAT I TRUST THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART?
This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 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. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” – Jeremiah 29:11
The Israelites were entering into a season marked with unfamiliarity. They were being escorted by their enemies into a foreign land because they had sinned against the Lord. They were being punished for their rebellion, yet the Lord spoke words of hope over them, giving them reason to believe that there were better days ahead. God revealed His heart of love for His people in this message.
GOD WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THIS NEXT CHAPTER OF THEIR LIVES. WHEN THEY PRAYED, HE WOULD LISTEN. WHEN THEY SOUGHT HIM, HE WOULD BE FOUND.
Last night, as we traveled back from one of our family Christmas gatherings, we began to talk about the blessings each of us has experienced in 2023. We looked back at the wonderful opportunities the Lord had given us, some of which were unexpected and very life-giving. Four of us had traveled quite a bit, so we took time to consider the places we had been and the people we had met.
We also looked back at the hard times. We started this year with some loved ones who are no longer here to end the year with us. There were some disappointments, some loss, and some heartache along the way. In some ways, we are not where we thought we would be when we set our goals for 2023. So, if life can look so different today than we thought it would look as we dreamed about the year ahead, how does that affect our perspective on setting goals for next year?
DO WE BELIEVE THAT GOD WILL BE PRESENT IN THE NEW YEAR? AS WE LOOK BACK ON WHAT IS BEHIND US, DO WE TRUST HIM WITH WHAT IS AHEAD?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6
What great advice the writer of Proverbs has for us. Perhaps the key to trusting God is to seek Him in all that we do. Perhaps the moments when we have regretted trusting the Lord have more to do with letting ourselves down because we were pursuing what we wanted instead of what God wants.
But what if I ask the Lord to shape the desires of my heart so that He can lead me down the path He has chosen for me? What if I stop making decisions based on my best guess or my limited understanding, and instead depend on the wisdom of God to provide me with direction and focus?
WHAT IF THIS IS THE YEAR THAT I TRUST THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART?
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him and he will help you. – Psalm 37:3-5
Commit your actions to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed…
We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps. – Proverbs 16:3,9
I KNOW THAT I CAN TRUST THE HEART OF GOD AND ALLOW HIM TO WORK OUT HIS PLANS FOR MY LIFE.
“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
But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken. – Psalm 33:11
Lord, we are leaning in and listening for your still small voice. We ask that you guide our thoughts and shape our desires for the year ahead. We trust you to write your plan in our hearts and then lead us through every decision ahead. May we desire only what you desire, and may our plans be guided by your Spirit. We will give you the glory for every success and every blessing in 2024! And may our reaction to the challenges and disappointments life may bring this next year also bring you glory. Amen.
And my prayer for you, friends, is that you will find God as you seek Him in the coming days. May you sense His fierce love for you, and may you find confidence in the truth that He is listening to you. I pray that the Lord will guide the desires of your heart so that they align with His. May He give you closure on some of your biggest disappointments, and may He heal your wounds and give you hope for all that He has ahead for you.
May he grant your heart’s desires
and make all your plans succeed. – Psalm 20:4
“May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.” – Numbers 6:24-26