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."
What a reassuring scripture. In one small scripture God not only communicates His love for us by telling us that He wants us to prosper, but He also tells us that He will not harm us. That is always reassuring when you are dealing with a being that can easily conquer and destroy us. God goes on to tell us that He is involved daily in our lives, because He has plans for us, and that those plans are too give us hope and a future.
When we really look at this scripture, it promises us almost everything that humans search for in the world. Success, protection, companionship, hope, purpose, security, and a future are all spelled out as traits of a relationship with God. How many times do we run into people looking for just one of the above. If they attain just one of these traits, via human means, they would consider their lives a success. Yet, we are promised, and guaranteed, all of them via a relationship with God via Christ's sacrifice for us. The sad thing is that we know that the world is hurting, and we have the answer too all their toils, fears, pains and suffering, yet we remain silent in fear ,or worry, of offending them, or being embarrassed among our peers.
When it is examined, a relationship with God is sort of like a friendship with that kid in school with all the good toys, the best house, and the character trait of dependability too boot. I am not saying we should follow God for the benefits, or the blessings, but I am saying that being around God is really the answer too the human needs and wants that we have. God not only wants our needs meet, i.e. minimal survival, but He wants to prosper us. Unfortunately, most Christians assume that the promise of prosperity must be financial. Though God could, and does prosper us financially, there is no reason to assume that He only, or solely means financial prosperity. God's promise of prosperity floods into our relationships (family, friends, churches), our jobs or duties, our health, our mental well being, our spiritual salvation, our emotional health, and every other area of need and desire we have in this world.
Then, when we think we have had enough of being prospered, cared for, loved and cherished, God goes further and shows us that He is not directing/ordering our lives, like a impersonal dictator, but He is planning our lives, our days, our successes, and our future. He is personally involved and linked to the plan for our lives. That means that He is invested in our success, and that our successes should glorify His will, His way, and His world.
How great to have a friend that could order, direct, dictate, and command, but yet guides, plans, assists and aids. What a reassuring thing to know that God wants, and does intimately interact with me and my world. He is not afraid of being challenged. He is not worried about being proven wrong. God does not have to worry about being out maneuvered intellectually, or found to be lacking due to some flaw in logic. He is perfect, flawless, and inerrant. He does not have to prove His strength or power like a ego driven deity would. God is confident in His power, His control is permanent, His plans are flawless, and His ways are just. He allows us to interact and learn from Him, not because He needs our approval, but because He longs to make us into His perfect creation.
What a wonderful God we serve. What a miracle each day with Him is, and can be. What a God who not only plans my future, but plans it where I succeed, prosper, and where I am protected from His wrath.
I will call upon the Lord
who is worthy to be praised
so shall I be saved from my enemies
the Lord liveth and blessed be the Rock
and let the God of my salvation be exalted
