Devotional Bible Study: God's Plan For Us | Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Updated: Jul 23, 2021
Welcome to Day 28. for one of our short powerful devotions from the 31 Bible Verses About Practicing The Presence Of God. This short devotional is based on Jeremiah 29:11-13.
Read Jeremiah 29:11-13.
God's plan for your life
Do you ever wonder about God's plan for your life?
God has a plan for you. He has a plan for my life. But how do I know the plans that God has for me?
The answer to that question is found in Jeremiah 29:11-13. The secret to learning about God's plan for your life is found in His presence. We need to practice Jeremiah 29:13. We have to seek God with all of our heart.
Join me for a short Bible study on Jeremiah 29:11.
What does Jeremiah 29:11-13 really mean?
Jeremiah 29:11 is a well-loved and encouraging verse. It is found on bumper stickers, signs, Christian clothing, and so many more products. I have placed it on a few of the products you will find at Scriptural Grace too. But to glean the most encouragement from this verse, you need to know the context of it.
What does Jeremiah 29:11 really mean?
Jeremiah was a prophet who served before and during the days Judah was taken into exile by the Babylonians. We talked a lot about this weeping prophet a few days ago.
The Israelites had not been following God's commands. They were involved with idolatry and other evil things. Jeremiah tried to warn them that if they didn't change their ways that they would be punished by God. The result was that Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon conquered Judah and Jerusalem and the people were carried off into exile (Jeremiah 25:1-11)
But God is faithful, compassionate and He keeps His promises. This punishment would last 70 years but God had plans to restore the people of Israel. He had a covenant with them, which they seemed to have forgotten. God was not done with them. He called them back to Him. He called them to be obedient and faithful. They had to learn to trust God and to trust that He had a good plan for their lives even during their time in captivity.
If you can find time, read the whole chapter of Jeremiah 29. You will find that God commanded the Israelites to build houses, to marry and give their children in marriage, to plant vineyards, and to “seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:5-7).
Did you catch that last part?
God commanded the Israelites to seek the welfare of the city that they were been held captive in!
Jeremiah 29:13 meaning
Now, let's take at what Jeremiah 29:13 means.
" And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
This is a promise of restoration for the people of Israel in exile after the completion of the time allotted for their discipline. God had plans for their good and not their harm. He had plans to prosper them and to give them a future and hope. God gave them this wonderful promise that if they seek Him with their whole heart, they will find Him. They would be exiled for 70 years, and some of the Israelites would die during this time of exile. They would not all get back to Israel but God keeps His promises. Israel was restored and the people of Israel were blessed during their time of captivity.
Join me below for a short devotional and prayer.
Short Devotional: God's Plan For Us
Jeremiah 29:11-13 was written specifically for the people of Israel that were in exile but the promises God made to them are also made to us. God longs for us to seek Him with all of our hearts and to diligently seek His presence. It is in that secret place with God that we too will find Him. And it is in that secret place that God's plans can unfold in our lives.
God has a plan for you!
Are you in a difficult situation?
You can take comfort from Jeremiah 29:11 knowing God is with you in the middle of your difficulty. You are not promised immediate change of your situation but you can know God's peace in it as you trust Him to work in it. God can restore all that was lost to you. I am amazed at the changes that God has brought about in my life. Some of the things that I prayed for, waited for, and hoped for a change in, have not always happened as I expected them to. But hindsight is a great thing and I am so blessed that God did not answer my prayers in the way I thought He should!
God's plan for you
So how can you know God's plan for your life?
Here are some great tips:
Seek God's presence throughout your day. Seek the secret place of God for that is where true safety can be found as promised in Psalm 91:1.
Repent of your sins. Prayerfully ask God for a clean heart, so that you can hear Him speaking to you clearly.
Be in prayer ask God for His wisdom