Verse To Abide In
“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.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
From The Heart
I have been immersing in James this year with a few sisters in the Lord. It is such a treasure to do so. I have been seeing the theme of faith throughout in a way I didn’t realize the fullness of until this go-around in the book.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
I processed with and confessed to my friends my struggle and growth in trusting in the Lord, especially when we talked about James 1:6.
“But let him ask (for wisdom) in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
James 1:6 ESV
I can look back and see how God has grown me in my faith. I think back to my prayer journaling, even six years ago, and see how he has strengthened my confidence. I think sometimes I would feel like a fraud even saying, “I trust you, Lord.” There was shame and guilt over my inadequacies blocking me from even saying it. His grace has helped me to be able to say it, which has helped me to believe it even more. This is definitely something I am still growing in!
I pray Jeremiah 17:7 often for that reason: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” It bolsters my faith—my trusting and believing—which makes my hope overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Let's Pray
Dear God, we praise you for being in control. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:1, 19 ESV). We praise and worship you, God. We think about how we plan our way, but you establish our steps (Proverbs 16:9 ESV). You are Mighty God, Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6–7).
We praise you for being trustworthy. Help us not to be misled, but to remember that every good and perfect gift comes from you, the Father of lights. We praise you, who created all the lights in the heavens. We trust that you never change or cast a shifting shadow by your turning, because you are perfect and never changing (James 1:17 ESV; NLT; AMP).
Abba, when we face circumstances, trials, or suffering of any kind—from things that are daily and mundane to things of crisis or even life-threatening—we ask for your wisdom. We specifically ask for wisdom for ____________. And as we ask for wisdom, we also ask for your help to ask in faith, with no doubting (James 1:5–8 ESV). We pray as the father who had a demon-possessed son and was asking Jesus for healing: “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). We ask as the disciples did—please, increase our faith; increase our ability to trust in you and your power (Luke 17:5 AMP).
We praise you, our God of hope. We ask you to fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in you, as we trust in your plan (Jeremiah 29:11), and that you would overflow us with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 NIV). We pray in your name, Jesus. We trust in you. You are our trust (Jeremiah 17:7). Amen.
“For I Know the Plans, Jeremiah 29:11–14a”
Here is part of the song that goes with the verse Jeremiah 29:11!