Hello
Here’s Today’s Holy Nougat™
In those days when you pray, I will listen. Jeremiah 29:12 NLT
The Children of Israel were not in a good place. Having tasted Independence some time in their past, a vast majority of them were taken away from their homeland to live in Babylon. The language of the new land was forced upon them, and assimilation was the mandatory and far-safer way of life. After years in exile, resistance was strong, as the religious faithful in the group sought to honor God through their defiant non-assimilationism.
After a season of much foment, pain and despair; Jeremiah received God’s response to the Children of Israel:
Build homes. Assimilate. Pray for your oppressors. Get settled.
Seek me (God) out like never before; and Trust that I (God), have The Plan. For, in seeking earnestly, you will find that I, God, will honor YOUR prayer request. (Jer 29 adapted)
Let’s consider what this means for us today …
So many of us are in that Space of Exile. Life (work, stress, finances, school, family situation, real humans, etc) has held us captive in a foreign land. We have – perhaps unknowingly – acquiesced to that relocation. Assimilation has proven to be pivotal to OUR survival, especially those of us with families who look to us for/are our survival. Some of us have lost faith in God’s Willingness OR in God’s Ability to change OUR Circumstances. {I have been there;, so I’m speaking from a point of total solidarity}.
Today, God is saying;
Please seek me out. Let’s rekindle our relationship, with you restoring/establishing a Real Prayer Life. And here’s my (Jesus-died-for-you) guarantee;
When you reestablish that deep and abiding relationship with me – watch how the tone and nature of your prayers shift, and, much more than that, I Your Lord WILL HONOR YOUR PRAYERS.
Oh Lord teach us to pray
In Christ’s love and grace
