Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jul 23, 2007 3:03:15 GMT -5
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." (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
Many of us might feel that a chronic illness and/or chronic pain does
not have a place in God's promise to us in Jeremiah. How can illness
not be harmful? How can we have hope and a future now?
Illness hurts. Pain hurts. When it's chronic it may seem hopeless.
But please take heart! God is faithful and keeps His promises.
Allowing something to happen is different from causing it to happen.
One definition of the word `harm' is "moral injury, evil, wrong".
This is not characteristic of God! We learned early in our Christian
lives that God is love. (1John 4:16) We also know from 1 Corinthians
13 what love is.
The fact that God is love proves what He says in Jeremiah about
having plans to not harm you. You`ve probably heard about reading a verse aloud, replacing the pronoun with your name. Be sure to do it
with this verse, too. It is so meaningful!
Yes, prosperity, hope and future probably have new meanings now. None of us knows God's detailed plans for individuals. Prosperity can mean anything from money to better/good health to being prosperous in our relationships, both human and spiritual. Hope is an assurance and confidence. We can all trust in the hope of God's future for us. Believe it when He promises you!
Not only are we assured He is good in His plans for us, but in verse
12 He says that we can go to Him and He will listen! How precious to serve a God who listens to us!
Prayer: Father, thank you for Who You are. I pray for the assurance
of your plans for us, the assurance that you have designed our
future. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Priscilla Ervin lives in Arlington, Texas with
chronic Epstein Barr and Fibromyalgia. She is comforted knowing that God has assured her future.
(Received by e-mail. Sharing for God's glory)
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." (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
Many of us might feel that a chronic illness and/or chronic pain does
not have a place in God's promise to us in Jeremiah. How can illness
not be harmful? How can we have hope and a future now?
Illness hurts. Pain hurts. When it's chronic it may seem hopeless.
But please take heart! God is faithful and keeps His promises.
Allowing something to happen is different from causing it to happen.
One definition of the word `harm' is "moral injury, evil, wrong".
This is not characteristic of God! We learned early in our Christian
lives that God is love. (1John 4:16) We also know from 1 Corinthians
13 what love is.
The fact that God is love proves what He says in Jeremiah about
having plans to not harm you. You`ve probably heard about reading a verse aloud, replacing the pronoun with your name. Be sure to do it
with this verse, too. It is so meaningful!
Yes, prosperity, hope and future probably have new meanings now. None of us knows God's detailed plans for individuals. Prosperity can mean anything from money to better/good health to being prosperous in our relationships, both human and spiritual. Hope is an assurance and confidence. We can all trust in the hope of God's future for us. Believe it when He promises you!
Not only are we assured He is good in His plans for us, but in verse
12 He says that we can go to Him and He will listen! How precious to serve a God who listens to us!
Prayer: Father, thank you for Who You are. I pray for the assurance
of your plans for us, the assurance that you have designed our
future. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Priscilla Ervin lives in Arlington, Texas with
chronic Epstein Barr and Fibromyalgia. She is comforted knowing that God has assured her future.
(Received by e-mail. Sharing for God's glory)