As we come to the close of this year and face the uncertainties that are before us in the year to come, it is important to pause, listen to, and accept a promise from our God:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you search for me with all your heart, you will find me, declares the Lord.”

This is one of God’s if – then’s. There can be no misunderstanding of what He is talking about in this passage of Scripture. God knows our future. He very carefully designed it in our best interest to enable us to find and follow His will. Because He knows our future, He assures us that it can be one of goodness and hope – not one of disaster.

But if we want this future that contains goodness and hope, we must study His Word and go to Him in earnest prayer. He assures us that He will listen to us IF we search for Him with all of our hearts and THEN are obedient to and follow Him. IF we do this, THEN He will bless us. 

Perhaps we have prayed and even searched for Him in years past, but did not do so with all our heart. With God, it is always IF you obey me, THEN you can count on Me. 

Prayer: Lord, may we come to You this year with sincerity and singleness of heart to find Your plans. Give us Your courage to seek, find, and follow You in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scriptures For Today: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

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As we come to the close of this year and face the uncertainties that are before us in the year to come, it is important to pause, listen to, and accept a promise from our God:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you search for me with all your heart, you will find me, declares the Lord.”

This is one of God’s if – then’s. There can be no misunderstanding of what He is talking about in this passage of Scripture. God knows our future. He very carefully designed it in our best interest to enable us to find and follow His will. Because He knows our future, He assures us that it can be one of goodness and hope – not one of disaster.

But if we want this future that contains goodness and hope, we must study His Word and go to Him in earnest prayer. He assures us that He will listen to us IF we search for Him with all of our hearts and THEN are obedient to and follow Him. IF we do this, THEN He will bless us. 

Perhaps we have prayed and even searched for Him in years past, but did not do so with all our heart. With God, it is always IF you obey me, THEN you can count on Me. 

Prayer: Lord, may we come to You this year with sincerity and singleness of heart to find Your plans. Give us Your courage to seek, find, and follow You in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scriptures For Today: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

Sign up to get this daily devotional via email and get a free gift!

As we come to the close of this year and face the uncertainties that are before us in the year to come, it is important to pause, listen to, and accept a promise from our God:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you search for me with all your heart, you will find me, declares the Lord.”

This is one of God’s if – then’s. There can be no misunderstanding of what He is talking about in this passage of Scripture. God knows our future. He very carefully designed it in our best interest to enable us to find and follow His will. Because He knows our future, He assures us that it can be one of goodness and hope – not one of disaster.

But if we want this future that contains goodness and hope, we must study His Word and go to Him in earnest prayer. He assures us that He will listen to us IF we search for Him with all of our hearts and THEN are obedient to and follow Him. IF we do this, THEN He will bless us. 

Perhaps we have prayed and even searched for Him in years past, but did not do so with all our heart. With God, it is always IF you obey me, THEN you can count on Me. 

Prayer: Lord, may we come to You this year with sincerity and singleness of heart to find Your plans. Give us Your courage to seek, find, and follow You in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scriptures For Today: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

Please leave a comment and tell us how you were helped by today's devotional! 

As we come to the close of this year and face the uncertainties that are before us in the year to come, it is important to pause, listen to, and accept a promise from our God:

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

“In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you search for me with all your heart, you will find me, declares the Lord.”

This is one of God’s if – then’s. There can be no misunderstanding of what He is talking about in this passage of Scripture. God knows our future. He very carefully designed it in our best interest to enable us to find and follow His will. Because He knows our future, He assures us that it can be one of goodness and hope – not one of disaster.

But if we want this future that contains goodness and hope, we must study His Word and go to Him in earnest prayer. He assures us that He will listen to us IF we search for Him with all of our hearts and THEN are obedient to and follow Him. IF we do this, THEN He will bless us. 

Perhaps we have prayed and even searched for Him in years past, but did not do so with all our heart. With God, it is always IF you obey me, THEN you can count on Me. 

Prayer: Lord, may we come to You this year with sincerity and singleness of heart to find Your plans. Give us Your courage to seek, find, and follow You in our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scriptures For Today: Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

Please leave a comment and tell us how you were helped by today's devotional! 

A lady backed out of her parking place in a large mall during a blizzard and was having a difficult time seeing. A few feet from her car were the blinking lights of a snow plow. She decided to follow it, thinking it would take her safely to the exit.

After a few twists and turns the operator of the snow plow stopped, got out of his warm cab and went to the window of her car and asked, “Where are you going?”

“To the exit,” she answered.

“Well then,” he said, “don’t follow me. I’m only here to plow the parking lot.”

Everyone needs a leader to follow. As Christians, we are blessed to have a Leader who can lead us safely through life – One who knows what is best for us and believes in us and is a faithful encourager. The Christian’s Leader is one who knows our strength and weaknesses and will never call us to do what He knows is beyond our skills, abilities and potential to grow.

Jeremiah said, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” The Prophet here is assuring us that God has an individual plan for each of our lives and that it is a good plan and because of that, we can have faith in Him and be filled with hope for our future. Because God has planned our future, He knows what we will need to do what He will call us to do.

This does not mean that we will not have difficult days or trying times, that we will be spared hardships or heartaches. But it does mean that God will see us through pain and sorrow and lead us to victory. We have His promise that He will lead us through the valleys and shadows into His glorious presence.

Prayer: How thankful we are, Lord, that You have a plan that has been designed especially for each of us. May we be faithful to trust and follow You all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Jeremiah 29:11 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.

Years ago I would watch my mother embroider beautiful napkins, pillowcases and tablecloths. She would spend hours working within a small “hoop” that stretched the fabric tight so she could follow the pattern. She would work with one color of thread at a time until she finished that part of the pattern.

If I looked underneath the “hoop,” I would see many knots and dangling threads that made no sense at all. It looked like a real mess. Looking carefully on the top side of the “hoop,” however, I would eventually see a pattern emerge that followed the plan of an artist. And when the product was finished, it was beautiful.

There are times when it seems as though life is made up of “many knots and dangling threads.” No matter where we look, nothing makes any sense at all. We feel forced to cry out, “Lord, what are You doing?” or “Where are you taking me?” or “What’s happening?”
or “I want to give up!” or “Is there no plan, God?”

When times are tough, we must turn to and trust in His Word: “I know the plans I have for you…Plans for good and not for evil…to give you a future and a hope!” Look for the pattern. It’s there!

Prayer: Lord, when days are dark and the path is perilous, let us sense Your presence and trust Your plan. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Jeremiah 29:11 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.