Verse of the Day (October 13, 2019)

Verse of the Day (October 13, 2019) – Happy Lord’s Day! Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles also exhorts them to ignore the lies of the false prophets (vv. 8–9). God controls the length of their exile, after which he will fulfill his promises (v. 10). His plan is to give them wholeness, a future, and a hope (v. 11). As in the New Testament, hope is not merely a fond wish but a certain future based on God’s faithfulness to his word (Rom. 5:1–5; Eph. 1:18; Col. 1:5, 27; 1 Thess. 4:13; 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:3, 21). Note the way prayer works: God first tells the exiles what he will do and why (Jer. 29:10–11); then they will pray accordingly, and God will hear them (v. 12). Those who seek God with a whole heart will find him, and they will be restored from their exile (vv. 13–14). Prayer is not trying to get God to do something he might not otherwise do; rather it is aligning our thoughts, desires, and will with God’s, as we humbly consider our circumstances in the light of the priorities that he reveals in his Word. We ask him to do his will (Matt. 6:10). God speaks first, and we respond to his Word. He initiates prayer by revealing his will. True prayer is always that God will fulfill his revealed will. When we don’t know the details of his will, we can follow Jesus’ example: “Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). As his adopted children, we can rest confident that whatever he ordains will ultimately be for our joy and glory. (Gospel Transformation Study Bible) #BMSeminary