“And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” Jeremiah 29:7
What can we learn from this verse? Well, the Israelites had been taken captive to Babylon, when Jeremiah sent them a letter in which God told them to pray for Babylon to have peace. “Pray for Babylon!? Are you serious Lord? This is a wicked nation! We don’t belong here! We want this place to be destroyed!”...These were probably a few of the thoughts going through the captives minds.
As believers, there is great hope for us in this verse, because we learn that the Lord’s blessing can come on any nation through the prayers and actions of God’s children. So, this verse is also a call to action! We can’t just sit around and wait for Jesus to return. We have to be busy about the Father’s work. Our ministry is always about the Father’s business, whether at home or on the road. My prayer is that God will continue to use me to help further the Kingdom.
God also has an assignment for you! He has placed you where you are for a reason. Look around you. Maybe you’re surrounded by nonbelievers at work. You may know someone who is going through a tremendous struggle. How can you make a difference for the Lord? By being a difference-maker in somebody’s life! You could be the one that introduces the ultimate peace to someone who desperately needs it.
We had the privilege of going down to Soperton, GA to be a part of a community youth outreach event. Churches from all around the community were involved. My topic was “You Matter”, and I talked about how when you don’t feel loved or valued by the people around you, just remember that God loves you. He knew you before you were born, and He created you for a special purpose. You are valued! You are loved! You are an important part of God’s plan! Some days it may not seem like it, but you are fearfully and wonderfully made; no matter what anyone says.
As believers, we need to be intentional in our daily interactions. Our goal should be to show others the love of Christ. We could be the difference in someone going home and ending their life, or making the decision to accept Jesus as their Savior. You matter, and so do others! You have a God given purpose, and so does everyone else you come in contact with...they just may not know it yet. And it may just be your purpose to tell them.
If you have been looking for a faith based harvest ministry to support, would you pray about joining with us in our mission by contributing to 21 Dive? If you already partner with us, we would like to take this time to let you know how much we are blessed by your faithfulness! Thank you for being a part of a ministry that relies fully on God to direct our path, and who is making a difference in people’s lives. God is using us to build the kingdom, and we are encouraged, yet humbled to be a part of this amazing ministry!
I pray that God will bless your family with peace, joy, and good favor, and keep you safe under His strong arm. We love you and continually thank God for you!