Lectionary readings for today:

Morning: Ps. 22: 148
Evening: Ps. 105; 103
Jer. 29: 1 (2-3) 4-13
Rom. 11: 13-24
John 11: 1-27 or John 12: 1-10

I will bless you with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering. You will turn back to me and ask for help, and I will answer your prayers. You will worship Me with all your heart, and I will be with you. – Jeremiah 29:11-13

This is my favorite verse from the Bible. One reason is that it gives me hope of a brighter and better future, but reminds me that I play an important part in this future. I must be willing to give my heart and put my trust in the Lord. This is difficult to do for me as I may give my problems to the Lord, but pick them back up thinking that I can do a better job of solving them. I have a difficult time fully trusting God will guide my future. Perhaps the following example best explains it.

In the early days of emigration to the West a traveler once came, for the first time in his life to the banks of the Mississippi River. There was no bridge. He must cross. It was early winter, and the surface of the mighty river was sheeted with ice. He knew nothing of its thickness, however, and feared to trust himself to it. He hesitated long, but night was coming on, and he must reach the other shore. At length, with many fears, and infinite caution, he crept out on his hands and knees, thinking thus to distribute his weight as much as possible, and trembling with every sound. When he had gone in this way painfully halfway over he heard a sound of singing behind him. There in the dusk was a man driving a four-horse load of coal across upon the ice and singing as he went! Many Christians creep trembling out upon God’s promises where another, stronger in faith, goes singing through life upheld by the same word. Have faith in God and rely upon His promises.

Dear Lord, Help us to realize that You keep your promises to us and we only need to put our willing hearts into Your hands.

——

Alice Gilreath