There Is Hope For Your Future

There Is Hope For Your Future

THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

No matter what the prognosticators claim, no one can accurately predict all that is going to happen in the future. Our best forecasts are just educated guesses. Change is not only increasing in speed and intensity, but also in unpredictability.

The Bible suggests three timeless principles for facing an uncertain future:

Set goals according to God’s direction. The Bible says, “We may make our plans, but God has the last word.” In other words, planning without praying is presumption. Start by praying, “God, what do you want me to do to fulfil Your purpose for my life?”

Live one day at a time – While we can plan for tomorrow, you can’t live it until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past and worrying about the future, that they have no time to enjoy today! Decide to make the most of each moment today. Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow – God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.”

Don’t procrastinate – Do it now! Don’t postpone to tomorrow what you must do today, for you don’t know what tomorow may bring. Procrastinating is a subtle trap. It wastes today by postponing things until tomorrow. You promise yourself that you’ll do it “one of these days.” But “one of these days” is usually “none of these days.” Start working on what you have planned to do, now!

Prayer: Ask the Lord to reveal to you what He wants you to accomplish today and give you wisdom and strength to do them.

Scriptural Reading: Jeremiah 29:4-14

4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit.

6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.

9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.

10 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your…

There Is Hope For Your Future

There Is Hope For Your Future

There Is Hope For Your Future

THERE IS HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE

“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.” Jeremiah 29:11

It is said that the future is an opportunity yet unmet, a path yet untravelled, a life yet unlived. How our future will be lived depends on the priorities and purposes of our lives today. The direction we take right now determines where we will end up in the future.

We might be frightened by an uncertain future, but as Christians, we don’t have to be afraid. We can welcome the New Year with an anticipation of what God will do in us and through us. Our future as Christians is as bright as the promises of God.

When the children of Israel were being held as captives in Babylon, God sent them a message of hope. Many of them felt that God had forgotten about them or that His intentions toward them were bad. They were frightened about their future, and they cried out to God for deliverance. So God raised up the prophet Jeremiah to speak to them.

If you have ever felt as though you were forgotten by God, if you have ever felt that God was against you, or if you have ever been frightened about your future, then God’s words to the Israelites apply to you as well: “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 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.”

Enter the New Year with hope and positive expectations because God wants to do great things with your life and for your life.

Prayer: Father, I enter the New Year with hope and expectations because I know You have prepared in advance great and mighty things for me to accomplish.

Scriptural Reading: Jeremiah 29:10-14

There Is Hope For Your Future