{"id":596,"date":"2022-07-21T03:19:08","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T03:19:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=596"},"modified":"2022-07-21T03:19:12","modified_gmt":"2022-07-21T03:19:12","slug":"plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deadmannotwalking.org\/?p=596","title":{"rendered":"Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

‘ . . . Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare’ . . . \u201cFor thus says the Lord, \u2018When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,\u2019 declares the Lord, \u2018plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 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<\/em> when you search for Me with all your heart.'”  (Jeremiah 29:7, 10-13, NASB)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible passage above takes place during the exile of the kingdom of Judah to Babylon.  This is an excerpt of a letter the prophet Jeremiah had written to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, telling them God’s message to keep the faith, that eventually they would return to their Homeland.  The letter begins by telling God’s people to live a normal life while they’re in Babylon. (Jeremiah 29:4-6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeremiah’s next instruction is to “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare.”  This is good advice to us today.  Those of us who follow Christ Jesus have dual citizenship in heaven.  We’re just passing through.  Yet we’re to be model citizens where we are, to attract others as we seek to populate Heaven!  We should pray for the “welfare” of our city, state, and Nation so that we can lead tranquil lives, and dwell with security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jeremiah
Jeremiah 29:11 image.  Found at DailyVerses.net, https:\/\/dailyverses.net\/jeremiah\/29\/11<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, God tells them that their exile will last for 70 years, consistent with previous prophecy (God is a Promise-Keeper!), at which time they would be restored to the Promised Land.  “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,\u2019 declares the Lord, \u2018plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'”  God has the same promise for His children, those who have called upon the name of the Lord, and have been saved.  God has a plan for us.  It’s up to us to follow.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeremiah concludes this portion with, “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 search for Me with all your heart.'”  This is true for believers today.  Wise men and women still seek Jesus.  When they’ve found Him, then God listens to our prayers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I thought I had plans for my retirement:  Lots of golf together with Sue and with our friends.  Traveling to see our grandchildren; oh, and our kids, too.  And traveling to places we haven’t been.  But God had other plans for me.  Four years ago I was diagnosed with ALS.  While I would prefer not to have this disease, I have to trust that God’s plan is far better than mine.  Plans for a “future and a hope.”  My hope?  I trust and hope in the name of the Lord! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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