Wednesday Words

Many of us are familiar with 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." 

But I think alot of us have never read the following verses or thought of what they require of us,

"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 seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."

God doesn't just offer us unlimited prosperity and a bright future for nothing.  That would not be good for us.  That's like if we let our children have chocolate cake for breakfast.  They would love it, it would certainly be a great "plan" in their eyes.  But it would not help them grow and be strong and able to face their day in a healthy way.

That is why God puts some parameters on His promise of prosperity and hope and a bright future for us.  He has a wonderful plan for us, but He wants us to "call upon" Him first and seek Him with all our hearts.  THEN we will find Him and THEN He will bring us out of the "captivity" we are in and THEN He will be able to lead us to His perfect plan for our lives.

You may say, "I'm not in captivity like the children of Israel were."  Really?  What about your unhealthy eating habits that are keeping you from living a long healthy life?  What about that unhealthy relationship you just keep holding on to for fear no one else will be there for you?  What about that addiction that has you in its grasp?  These are all forms of captivity that God wants to free you from, if you will only seek Him.

This Christmas season, as we celebrate Jesus' birth for bringing us eternal salvation, let's celebrate the salvation He offers us daily...salvation from ourselves if we only seek HIM with all our heart.