Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
April 21, 2022
Read Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. 12 When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. 13 When you search for me, yes, search for me with all your heart, you will find me. 14 I will be present for you, declares the LORD, and I will end your captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have scattered you, and I will bring you home after your long exile, declares the LORD.
Good Morning, God is with us always!
This prophecy from Jeremiah was shared with those in captivity in Babylon to assure them of their hope for the future. As humans, we are entangled with different types of captivity today. We may not be exiles in the traditional sense of the word, but we have tormentors that seem to control our lives: power, wealth, prestige, and self-image. These earthly values can control us as surely as human captors, and it is difficult to escape these bonds.
The most challenging aspect of these modern captors is that we might not even realize that we are enslaved. Striving for power, wealth, prestige, and self-image is a part of the driving force upon which our world operates, and maybe even the glue that holds everything together. We can become so blinded by these ideals that we lose sight of what is truly important in our lives.
When do you have time to love God and love one another if your focus is on achieving these societal norms? Sadly, many have lost this basic, foundational part of who they are. They work as if they are part of a materialistic machine stamping out any resemblance of who God calls us to be. The crazy thing is that when you are a part of this system, you don’t even realize that you are dragging around the chains of imprisonment.
One day you wake up and feel like David as written in Psalm 13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? God loves us and is calling to us, but we must be ready to listen.
God never leaves us, but sometimes we turn our backs and join in the evil revelry that surround us. Our God is an awesome God because no matter what we do, how many times we fail to listen or walk into the shadows, God is always there with us. We must simply call out and give ourselves to Christ. We don’t even have to clean up first. God takes us as we are and helps us break those chains that weigh us down. Through the Holy Spirit, we learn to serve God, not man.
Loving and Gracious God, Thank You for loving us. We are so burdened by the chains of prosperity. We are easily swayed by the earthly desires that others deem important. Help us break these bonds! Thank You! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: God cares about my future and will prepare the way.
Find ways to listen to God today! Pastor Liz
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