GOD HAS PLANS FOR YOU TO PROSPER

Proclamation:

"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." Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

Explanation:
These words are from the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles, to the priests, to the prophets and to all the other people that King Nebuchadnezzar had carried off into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Application:

These words can also be applied to us today.  The believers of today are suffering.  We may not have been taken into captivity but we are suffering.  God is aware of our current situations, trials, and troubles.  He knows that our problems are only temporary and that joy and happiness will be ours soon. (Psalm 30:5)  God knows all and He knows what plans He has each one of us.  He knows why we are going through the storms in our lives.  These storms will pass and their dark clouds will reveal a silver lining followed by a beautiful rainbow.  His plans are for us to prosper and to have a better future.  Soon we will be much better off.  No man has seen the wondrous things which God has in store for us. (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)  So, keep the faith, keep your hope in The Lord, things will get better and "we will understand it better by and by".

Influence For Such A Time As This

"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14 (NIV)

Through a series of unlikely events, Esther, a beautiful Jewish girl who had been raised by her cousin Mordecai, had married King Xerxes, King of Persia and Media, and become Queen. Mordecai found out about the plot to kill the king and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king. Some how the king honored Haman for this, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. All of the people were to kneel down and pay honor to Haman, for the king had commanded it. But Mordecai would not kneel down. Haman learned that Mordecai was Jewish and wanted to kill all Jews because of his disrespect. Mordecai sent word to Esther to beg the king for mercy and plead with him for her people. Going before the king without being summoned by him could cost Esther her life.

Some times we are placed in positions of influence and need to speak up for what we believe. There is a cost associated with taking a stand and speaking up, but there is also a cost for keeping silent when we should speak up and for not helping others when we could. In our circles of family, friends, and co-workers, we all exercise some influence through our advice and opinions. Let each of us speak up for Christ and make sure that our advice and opinions are solidly Bible based as we attempt to help others.

It is very possible that the events of our lives, the lessons learned, and the blessings received have prepared us to be in position that we are in "... for such a time as this." Pray to God that you use your influence wisely.

Want To Gain Favor With God?

"... Forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; For length of days, long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck ... So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man." Proverbs 3:1-4

A peaceful, long life and God's favour, that should make any Christian happy. You too can enjoy these blessings, all you have to do is believe and follow The Word of God.

If we keep God's word in our heart and on our mind, and have mercy and truth become a part of us so that we demonstrate acts of loving-kindness, we will have favour in the sight of God.

Blessings Past Present And Future

"Blessed be The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

We have been blessed in the past, we are being blessed now in the present, and we will be blessed in the future. By His providential grace, God has kept us, is keeping us, and will keep us until we are with Him in the future. Praise His holy and righteous name.

Remember, we are in this world, but not of this world. We are just passing through it on our way home.

Joy Cometh In The Morning

"Sing unto The Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but for a moment; in His favour is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Psalms 30:4-5


Praise God and be thankful, even when He is giving us the whipping that we deserve or allowing us to go through a test. God does get angry with us at times, but He still loves us. Whatever it is that we are going through, it will only be short-lived. Our current dark midnight situation may cause us to cry, but it is temporary, our joy is coming in the morning.