Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 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.
- Strictly speaking, this verse wasn’t written for us. It was written for the people of Israel. Still, it teaches us something about God. What does this verse teach us about God?
- This verse was not written to us. What application can we take?
- Max Lucado says, “To the degree that we believe and accept God’s vision for our lives, we will get through life. When people junk us into the pit, we will stand up. God can use this for good. When family members sell us out, we will climb to our feet. God will recycle this pain.”[1] Do you agree?
- Do you think God has plans for your life? Tell me about them. What have you learned about God’s plans for your life?
- Do you think God has in His heart to prosper us?
- What does the Bible mean by prosperity?
- What do we learn about prosperity from this cross-reference: “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1–3 (NIV)
- One more. What do we learn from this cross-reference: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
- Agree or disagree: God wants me to be prosperous and successful.
- Plans to give you hope and a future. How is life better for people who are able to find hope?
- How can we become people of strong hope and confidence?
- Just for today, let’s pray that God would fill us with hope and confidence.
[1] Lucado, Max. 2013. God Will Carry You Through. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
