Jeremiah 29:11-14

"'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.  I will be found by you,' declares the Lord."  Jeremiah 29:11-14

The words of Jeremiah 29-11-14 were originally penned to God's Old Testament people who had been taken into exile, but they are still relevant to God's people today.  God's plan for us is to prosper us and not to harm us.  He always works for our spiritual good, and no ultimate spiritual harm will ever come to a child of God!

Our definition of success and prosperity may not always match the Lord's definition, but His way and will for us is always best.  True success and prosperity is found in seeking to please and honor the Lord with the resources, opportunities, and blessings that He has given us.  True success is found in trusting the Lord's leading and direction in our lives.

God may allow difficult circumstances in our lives as well as times of relative calm, but we can be certain that His plans for us are always for our best and are not meant to harm us.  His plans according to Jeremiah 29:11b are to give us "hope and a future."  When everything around us seems to be falling apart, the Lord already has it all figured out!  The Lord already has a plan in mind for our lives from all eternity!  Every step and event in our lives has been planned by the Lord and is known by the Lord.  Why should we fear anything?  The Lord allows these difficult times to help get our eyes off ourselves and more focused on Him.  His plans in even difficult times are meant to give us "hope and a future."

In order to have the assurance of the Lord's presence in our lives, however, we must always call upon Him in prayer.  We must seek a relationship with the Lord with all of our hearts.  It must be our passion to serve and please Him.  The Lord must be most important in our lives.  Our lives in what we consider good times and in times which we consider difficult times must be centered on our growing love relationship with the Lord.  We must also find our strength in the Lord alone.

This is the path and secret to joy and success in the Lord.  Life will continue to contain uncertainties and times of difficulty.  The Lord, however, is our certain future; if we seek Him with all our hearts.  People and things will fail.  The Lord will never fail.  He will bring us from victory to victory!  Praise His name!