Reassures us of God's plans for our prosperity and deliverance, urging us to persevere, seek Him wholeheartedly, and trust in His promises.
Good morning, beloved family of God. The warmth of His love is in this place, and in our hearts, stirring us to seek His face and His word. Today, we are gathered under the banner of His love, under the canopy of His grace, to share in the richness of His word. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. Our hearts are ready, our spirits are willing, and our minds are open to the treasures God has in store for us today.
We turn our hearts to the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29, verses 11 to 14. The words of the prophet Jeremiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, echo across the centuries, speaking life and hope into our circumstances today. Let us read together:
"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. 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. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
Isn't it comforting to know that God has a plan for us? That He has a future and a hope for us? That He listens when we call and pray to Him? That He can be found when we seek Him with all our hearts? And that He is able to bring us back from any form of captivity? This is the assurance we have in Him.
Germany Kent once said, "Where God guides, He provides. No matter how things look, God is still in control. Stay in peace and be hopeful. Your blessing is coming soon." Isn't it wonderful to know that we are not alone in our trials and challenges? That God is with us, guiding, sustaining, and holding us up?
Perseverance: It’s not just about enduring, but about enduring with faith. It's about holding on to God's promises even when our circumstances seem to contradict them. It's about believing that God is working for our good even when we can't see it. It's about trusting in God's timing even when it doesn't align with ours.
It can be tempting to give up: It can be tempting to think that God has forgotten us or that His promises are not for us. But the truth is, God is always at work. He is always working for our good and for His glory. And so, we need to persevere. We need to keep seeking Him, keep trusting Him, keep hoping in Him.
This is not easy: It requires faith. It requires patience. It requires strength. But the good news is, we don't have to do it in our own strength. God gives us the strength to persevere. He gives us the faith to believe. He gives us the hope to keep going.
Not a passive waiting, but an active seeking: It's about seeking God with all our heart. It's about seeking His will, His ways, His wisdom. It's about seeking His presence, His peace, His power. When we seek God with all our heart, we will find Him. He promises that He will be found by us. He promises that He will listen to us when we call on Him and pray to Him. He promises that He will bring us back from captivity.
Seeking God is not a one-time event: It's a daily, ongoing process. It's a lifelong journey of growing closer to God, of becoming more like Him, of experiencing more of His love and grace. And so, we need to persevere in seeking God. We need to keep seeking Him even when we don't feel like it. We need to keep seeking Him even when we don't see immediate results. We need to keep seeking Him because He is worth it.
More than getting through the tough times: It’s about growing through them. It's about allowing our trials to draw us closer to God, to deepen our faith, to strengthen our character. It's about allowing our challenges to shape us into the people God wants us to be. Perseverance is not just about reaching our destination, but about enjoying the journey. It's about finding joy in the journey, finding peace in the process, finding hope in the hardships. It's about finding God in the midst of our trials and challenges.
As we continue to navigate through the richness of Jeremiah 29:11-14, we find ourselves on a pathway ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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