Often times I get wrapped up in my own thoughts when I am weary and tired, or my prayers seem to have gone unanswered. In those times, I need to remember where to get HOPE again when things seem hopeless.
This morning I was meditating on the following verse in Jeremiah 29:12-14 that says “Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, I will let you find me, declares the LORD. I will bring you back from captivity.”
Hmm. Captivity?
It’s true, I too am a captive, but unlike Israel who was delivered into bondage with the fall of Jerusalem in 606 A.D., I am held captive by my own thoughts.
And the more I think about myself, the more miserable I become.
God wants us to know however that when we meditate on His Word and earnestly pray to Him and seek Him, He will lift us up, He will bring us out of captivity, He will restore joy in our hearts and give us peace, provide our needs, and restore our strength when we are weary and tired.
REMEMBER
When attention is focused on negative thoughts, it is possible to become quite discouraged, but when attention is diverted to God and His Word, discouragement flees and faith heightens. So be comforted to know that God is expecting us, and that if we knock, He will answer. A similar verse to the one in Jeremiah is Matthew 7:7 that says “Ask, and you will receive (call to me). Search, and you will find (go and pray to me, you will seek me and find me). Knock, and the door will be opened for you (I will hearken unto you, I will let you find me).”
GOD’S PROMISE – “For I know what I have planned for you, says the LORD. I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Copyright 2016 by Bill Hutzel
Bill,
This was a great inspiration to me in a time when I have been feeling a crises of faith.
This has been a difficult time not having any work to keep me busy in what I had loved doing; just sitting around doing nothing but looking things up on the internet and sleeping from boredom.
As you may recall, I am tired at times from my CLL condition and my left leg edema along with the neuropathy in that foot, causes much pain most days of the week.
Still no luck selling my gold Haynes. It’s been 2 years and 3 months since the Flute Center has been in possession of it and they even lowered the price by 6 k.
Enough about me, how have you been doing with the things going on in your life. I hope and pray things will improve for you soon and you’ll have a chance for a more fruitful and less stressful life.
May God bless you always
and all ways,
~Frank~
Frank,
I am glad that this was encouragement to you, and thank you. Honestly, when I write these posts, they too are encouragement to me, as well as being therapeutic. As I meditate on God’s Word and think much about Him throughout my day, I experience more and more His peace and help in my circumstances. Our faith in God urges us to trust in God. In the midst of trouble, we need to pray fervently and continue to praise and thank Him. I believe that when we pray fervently and we submit to God and obey His will, it is the act of obedience and faith in God that permits God to bring victory over our circumstances.Check out “Victory through Praise” at http://inspirationandhope.wordpress.com/2013/08/29/recipe-for-victory-over-our-circumstances/.
Now I pray that the Lord of peace himself will give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you, Frank.
Bill