Advent Devotional: Day 3

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare (good-NLT, prosper-NIV) and not for evil (harm-NIV, disaster-NLT), to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV

When we think of the future, what comes to mind?  Retirement?  Children?  Grandchildren?  What we would call “the sweet life”?  In these future events, what would change these from becoming a reality?

We are so focused on our careers, our families, our future that we become overwhelmed by the world’s chaos.  We find hate spewed by our politicians, by our friends, and by our children.  Turn on the TV and we see that hate lived out in the rise of murders, hate crimes, and wars.  We are saving money for our future or our children, that one moment of change can disrupt our savings.  Our future seems hopeless.

Our hope is found in God.  Colossians 3:2 says, “Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”  Our future lies with Him, not here on earth.  A simple shift in our thoughts, eyes, and heart changes how we see things.  Things here on earth are constantly changing. Political powers shift (then and now). But God’s plan has not changed. His plan was and is to give us a future with Him.  This is where our hope is found, not in the treasures of earth.

Where your heart leads, so will your hope be found.  If hope is not constantly secure, then your heart is not with God, but shifted to the world around you.  When we feel hope slipping, He hears us when we seek Him with all our heart.

Where is your heart leading you?  To God or Away from God?