‘…When it prospers, you will…prosper.’ Jeremiah 29:7 GWT
Are you at a place in your life and you’d rather not be there? Well, God has a word for you, but it may not be one you want to hear. It’s the same word Jeremiah brought to his people when they were slaves in Babylon, far from everything near and dear: ‘You’re not going home anytime soon, so change your attitude, dig in and make the best of it. Buy homes, plant gardens, let your children get married…and in addition, pray for the peace and prosperity of the city where you’re living because when it prospers, you will prosper.’ (Jeremiah 29: 5-7 paraphrase) The Israelites were in exile because God had allowed them to be taken captive. So, could it be that you are where you are today because God placed you there to bless those around you? Instead of putting your life on hold waiting for circumstances to change, start sowing into other people’s lives what you want to come back as a harvest in your own. Why? Because when they are blessed, you’ll be blessed too! How do we know? Because Jesus said, ‘Give, and it will be given to you…the measure you use…will be measured to you.’ (Luke 6:38 NIV) Martha Washington said, ‘I am still determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may be. I have learned that the greater part of happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.’ That sounds just like Paul: ‘…I have learned [to be] content in…every situation…’ (Philippians 4:12 NIV) If you want to go from surviving to thriving, make the most of where God placed you.
SoulFood: 1 Cor 7-9, John 4:13-26, Ps 100, Pr 23:22-28
The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright 2012
