Day 106 – The LORD is with you to save you!
Jeremiah 30:10-11a “Fear not, O Jacob My servant,” declares the Lord, “And do not be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar And your offspring from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, And no one will make him afraid. For I am with you,” declares the Lord, “to save you …
Story: The pain and punishment Judah was about to face for their sinful disobedience will be like men experiencing childbirth (v. 6). No discipline from the LORD is ever enjoyable, and yet He does so out of love – and always with the purpose of restoration. So Judah is not to fear the intense pain of the discipline, nor the prolonged suffering of captivity, because it is only temporary. The LORD declares as a solemn promise that He will save and bring His people back, no matter how far. They will enjoy a full restored relationship with the LORD – quiet, at east, and without cause for fear. Why? Because the LORD declares as a solemn truth, ‘I am with you to save you.’
My Prayer Response: Father, how much greater is what You have given to me and others in Christ! You have saved us; You are with us! Even through pain of discipline, You always have good for us. And You will never go back on Your promises; You are always faithful to Your Word! Thank You for the comfort of Your presence, the power of Your salvation, and the goodness of all that You do to us and through us.
May you trust that Jesus is with you this day!
Day 107 – A Heart Transformation
Jeremiah 32:39-40 “and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.”
Story: When the chapter begins, Jeremiah is in prison in a city surrounded by enemy soldiers. His crime was to prophesy from God that Babylon will capture Jerusalem, Judah’s king Zedekiah would be taken captive to Babylon, and that all efforts by Judah to resist this will fail (v. 2-5). And in the midst of all of this, God tells Jeremiah to buy some land in his home village of Anatoth – a place Jeremiah cannot physically go right now (v. 6-8). It all seems ridiculously impossible to Jeremiah, and he asks God for an explanation. Yes, in the immediate, Babylon will win and Jerusalem will fall. But God is not done. He will work on the hearts of His people so that they belong to Him (v. 38), and so that they fear Him with one heart and mind. He will make an eternal covenant that no earthly circumstance can break so that He will always do good to His people, and they will not turn away from worshipping Him.
My Prayer Response: Father, we are in need of heart transformation. On our own, none of us seek after You, obey You, worship You. Only as You are gracious and good to us can we have a united heart to fear You, worship You, and be faithful to You. Thank You for this heart transformation in Christ, this good news of salvation, and that we can forever belong to You. Finish what You have started; complete the heart transformation in Your people!
May your heart be transformed by God to fear the LORD today!
Day 108 – From the Worst to the Best
Jeremiah 33:9 “It will be to Me a name of joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth which will hear of all the good that I do for them, and they will fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.”
Story: It was the worst of times, which is why God invites Jeremiah to call to Him and learn from Him great and hidden things (v. 3). Though Jeremiah still sits in prison for the truth; though Jerusalem is surrounded by attacking Babylonians; though houses have been destroyed in an attempt to defend the city (v. 4); and though dead bodies will soon be piled up (v. 5), God promises health and healing, prosperity and security (v 6), joy, praise, glory, and goodness (v. 9). Everything about Jerusalem will be transformed, especially their spiritual condition (v. 8). God’s purpose is to reveal His goodness to all the nations of the earth so that each of them would know Him, would fear Him, and would seek His goodness and salvation!
My Prayer Response: Father, I am staggered by the full contrast here – from the worst of present times to the best of future times. This seems crazy, except that this comes from You! In the worst of times, remind me to hold fast to You, and the reality of Your ‘crazy’ promises that will all one day be reality. Pour out Your goodness on me, my family, my church so that others would see Your character, fear You, and be brought to salvation – be brought to receive Your goodness also poured out on them. Nothing is too difficult for You!
Even if today is one of the worst, may the LORD do good to you!
Day 109 – Choosing Between Fear or Obedience
Jeremiah 42:11 “Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you are now fearing; do not be afraid of him,” declares the Lord, “for I am with you to save you and deliver you from his hand.”
Story: The line is drawn in the sand and again the people of God must choose this day whom they will obey. Babylon has won; many are taken captive to Babylon; Jerusalem is in ruble; and now someone has assassinated the governor established by Babylon. So the remaining people of Judah come to Jeremiah, very scared and very much wanting to know what God would have them to do. They are ready to run away in fear, but say they will “obey the voice of the Lord our God” (v. 6). After ten days, God speaks to them through Jeremiah: stay in the land and do not be afraid. If you disobey and in fear run away to Egypt, then know that the sword that you fear will find you there (v. 16-17). So, which will it be? stay and obey? Or run in fear?
My Prayer Response: Father, I see myself in the people of Judah – resolving to obey whatever You give, yet already having my mind made up to do what I think is best. Thank You that You are patient, and forgive me of this as I confess my sin to You. Only You know what is best. Only You give a peace that overcomes fear. I want to obey You totally and fully, not just in well-sounding words. You are always with me; what can man do to me?
PS The people say that Jeremiah speaks lies, and so head off to Egypt. Even worse, they kidnap Jeremiah to go with them (see 43:1-7).
May you choose this day to obey the voice of the LORD your God!
Day 110 – No Fear In The Lowest Pit
Lamentations 3:55-57 I called on Your name, O Lord, Out of the lowest pit. You have heard my voice, “Do not hide Your ear from my prayer for relief, From my cry for help.” You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not fear!”
Story: Jeremiah writes these verses on the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon, which includes many of his countrymen dying or taken captive. Because of Judah’s ongoing idolatry and greed, God brought this discipline of destruction. It would seem God’s people are in the lowest pit, but not beyond the help of God!
My Prayer Response: Father, great is Your faithfulness! That in the midst of this discipline of Your people, You are still there for them. When You promise to never leave or forsake, You mean it! Nothing in this life or even death can ever separate us from Your love for us in Jesus. When we find ourselves in low points, even today, may we bring our prayer to You and have ears to hear Your answer: do not fear!
May you know God is with you this day, no matter what happens!