IN CONTEXT

Don’t you just love God’s promises! They comfort, encourage and give us hope. One of my favorite life verses is Jeremiah 29:11. “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.” This is one of the most quoted bible verses in gift shops. You’ll find it on mugs, plaques, pens, keychains, and everything in between. Everyone loves this encouraging power verse but God is saying so much more in the connecting passage. Where he says,

Then you will call on 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.” –Jer. 29: 12-13

As the Holy Spirit then tells me, “Many love what I can promise them, but few are willing to give what it takes to receive.” Boom. There it is. That holy conviction.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL of your heart. There is an exchange. He says we will find Him when we come to Him completely. When we give our all to Him, no matter the cost, then he moves in supernatural ways. We then experience the peace he promises, the favor he promises and the plans he promises us. He’s really after our heart above all. If we want to grow in our love and knowledge for the Lord we must study His word and hear His voice.

Those catchy feel-good verses are nice to hang on the wall and share on Facebook but there is so much more if you dive in. I challenge you to begin to read His living word in full context to know the full story and what God is really trying to say. For what he is really promising us requires action.

Let’s pray:

“Lord, give me a love for your word. Help me to read the whole story in context. I push back distractions and my own imagination. As I surrender my heart to you, speak to me, breathe new life into my soul. Amen.”