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For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 AMPC

I love how God spoke this through His prophet, Jeremiah. I understand that those words were spoken centuries ago, but they still speak today to the great faithfulness of God. You see, it wasn’t just for Israel that this prophesy came, it was for all His children in the future, even those adopted through belief in His Son, Jesus.

He knows the thoughts and plans He has for you and me. For good and not evil, to give us hope in our final outcome. Regardless of what it looks like right now, His plans are already mapped out and when you call out to Him, you will find He’s never moved from His position and He’s constantly watching and listening to your cry for help.

David penned these words in Psalm 37:23-24, “The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take.  If they fall, it isn’t fatal, for the Lord holds them with his hand.” That shows He knows it all, has planned it all and will take care of you.

So how can we have hope in that? It’s called seeking after Him as a ‘vital necessity’. As if your life depends on it, because it truly does. The more we seek Him, the more we find Him, the more time we spend with Him, the more intimately we’re acquainted with Him. It’s hard not to trust someone you know THAT well.

When you’re that confident in God’s ability to keep his Word, you’ll never doubt Him again. My response to contrary situations looks like this:

I don’t have enough money to pay my bills–but You said You’re my provider and You would provide for me out of Your riches not mine. I’ve done everything I can, so it’s time for you to jump into the rescue. I don’t see anything on the calendar for next month. I’d really like that taken care of Father. BAM! Either that day or the next it’s done!

Dr. Jesus, I’m having this pain that I’m pretty sure You’re aware of. Thanks for taking care of it back when You took that beating for me. I will walk in the provision You made for my healing today. Your infallible Word says, “By His stripes you were healed.” Done deal! You said according to my faith it would be done, so today I take my stand on Your Word and will not retreat at the first sign or symptom. I will press toward the finish line because Your Word can’t return to You empty, it has to do what it was sent to do. Now I worship and praise you every day, continuing to do what You sent me in the earth to do. You are faithful who promised.

Father, my natural eyes observe my grandchildren walking away from You, but I call them back in Jesus’ mighty name. Your Word says that my children would be taught of the Lord and great would be their peace. My children and grandchildren have all been bought by the blood of the Lamb and they will serve You and accomplish all You’ve designed for their lives. Not one of them will follow the wicked plans of the enemy. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Now I praise and thank You for Your divine intervention. I will stand on Your Word and continue to say those things that aren’t yet as though they already are.

Ephesians 12:16-18 TPT; In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One! Embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies. And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God. Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers.

Keep Standing in Hope,

Sandy G