Plans & Prayer
Jeremiah 29:1-9
Many people focus a lot of attention on the next two verses that follow this somber instruction. It’s very easy to get caught up in the planning of life and shift the focus to the movement of life. We live a life that is justified by a vague acknowledgement of instructions that allows us to control what we want to do because it falls within the scope of the instruction. But never miss the context of the verses leading up to the divine promise that Jeremiah gives to Israel.
The Israelites were not where they wanted to be; they were in captivity. Jeremiah told them that those who did not leave Jerusalem would be like bad figs and they would be utterly destroyed (Jer. 24:8-10). It would be a safe assumption to interpret the leaving of King Jeconiah and the other officials. They weren’t abandoning their post; they were following God’s instruction. Which could only be complete by them living the lives they would be living, as if Jerusalem, with the expectation that they were to pray for the welfare of their captors. Which is exactly what some did.
Daniel lived during the time of the exile. At one point, Daniel is summoned by King Nebuchadnezzar to interpret a dream. The dream is the coming judgment on Nebuchadnezzar from the Lord (Dan. 4:19-26). When you see Daniel’s last response, it is not a response born from a vengeful heart, but it from a thoughtful and caring heart that desires to see God’s blessing given to others. He instructs the king to repent so that maybe his prosperity would continue. Repentance from sin is only possible when someone sees that they have fallen short of God’s standard. The exact lesson God was trying to teach Israel.
Let our plans prayers of our lives reflect the same desire that Daniel had by following the instructions of God from Jeremiah. Pray for our city to see the blessings from God; they would be receptive to the opportunities to turn towards Him as we live in a place that is not where we truly want to be.
Many people focus a lot of attention on the next two verses that follow this somber instruction. It’s very easy to get caught up in the planning of life and shift the focus to the movement of life. We live a life that is justified by a vague acknowledgement of instructions that allows us to control what we want to do because it falls within the scope of the instruction. But never miss the context of the verses leading up to the divine promise that Jeremiah gives to Israel.
The Israelites were not where they wanted to be; they were in captivity. Jeremiah told them that those who did not leave Jerusalem would be like bad figs and they would be utterly destroyed (Jer. 24:8-10). It would be a safe assumption to interpret the leaving of King Jeconiah and the other officials. They weren’t abandoning their post; they were following God’s instruction. Which could only be complete by them living the lives they would be living, as if Jerusalem, with the expectation that they were to pray for the welfare of their captors. Which is exactly what some did.
Daniel lived during the time of the exile. At one point, Daniel is summoned by King Nebuchadnezzar to interpret a dream. The dream is the coming judgment on Nebuchadnezzar from the Lord (Dan. 4:19-26). When you see Daniel’s last response, it is not a response born from a vengeful heart, but it from a thoughtful and caring heart that desires to see God’s blessing given to others. He instructs the king to repent so that maybe his prosperity would continue. Repentance from sin is only possible when someone sees that they have fallen short of God’s standard. The exact lesson God was trying to teach Israel.
Let our plans prayers of our lives reflect the same desire that Daniel had by following the instructions of God from Jeremiah. Pray for our city to see the blessings from God; they would be receptive to the opportunities to turn towards Him as we live in a place that is not where we truly want to be.
Recent
Archive
2026
April
September
October
2025
April
July
Categories
no categories
No Comments