Jeremiah | Kristi's Morning Devotional

Have you ever lost something valuable? A ring, money, your keys…

I remember when our youngest daughter was in preschool. Her class took a field trip to Sea World. I’m not sure how many mothers and fathers went along to chaperone but we had a large group and I’m so glad we did. There were two pre-school classes, teachers, helpers, parents and kids.

We had a wonderful day! After we had gone to several of the scheduled shows we broke up into smaller groups and visited the aquariums and tide pools. We were all to meet back at the main gate by the fountain at a particular time, ready to go home.

When we arrived at the fountain we asked the all important question, who has to go potty before we start back. Several hands were raised and so some of the moms and dads escorted the students to the bathrooms while others of us waited back at the fountain with the rest of the children. And then the unthinkable happened.

One of the mother’s let out a frantic cry – my kids are gone! She had brought her two younger children on the field trip with the rest of us and while she was looking after a couple of the students, her children had wandered off.

She called their names over and over again, we prayed and gathered up the rest of the children, had them sit down on the ground by the fountain under the watchful eye of 2 of the chaperones and all the rest of the adults spread out to find the missing two.

It seemed we searched for an eternity but in reality it was probably only 15-20 minutes and there they were. Hands dipping in one of the tide pools to touch the star fish. Not frightened, not worried just playing as children do!

The relief, the tears, the joy, the lecture…what was lost had been found!

Have you lost your relationship with the Lord? Maybe you’ve just wandered away for a bit – looking for something fun to do? Not realizing that you could be in danger out there in the big world all by yourself. The Bible promises us that if we seek the Lord we will find Him and that there will be a reward for seeking Him.

“Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.” Hebrews 11:6 ERV

I encourage you today to search for God, search His Word and you will find that He’s right there waiting for you.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. 14 I will let you find me.” This message is from the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:11-14 ERV

Do you realize that this year is 2/3 complete? What goals are we accomplishing – what successes have we had so far? Do you know that our Father is gracious and loving and He has such big plans for us? Plans for our success and benefit? Oh my goodness – He is our biggest cheerleader! He is at everything soccer game, basketball game, swim meet, 4H and FFA event and on every shoot. He’s there cheering us on and He does it with a good attitude and doesn’t say bad words if the “ref” gets it wrong.

“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. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

I used kids’ activities as my examples because each of us as a parent has been there to cheer our kids on and to tell them they are great but God does it in a much greater way.

He also there in every prayer we pray over our kids, He’s in on every discussion we have with our mate, He attends every business meeting, goes on every trip, is there for every sale and training session. He’s not a dead beat or absentee Father! He’s involved in our lives as much as we allow Him to be. He’s there!

He’s written everything down that we need to succeed. It’s not a suggestion book or an advice column but He has given us what we need to succeed in every area.

“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. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 NIV

Oh, He’s also given us a freewill. We can go out and try things on our own. We can fail, we can fall flat on our faces and He will be there to pick us up and set us on the right path once again. Don’t we do this with our kids? How our hearts break when they try to do it on their own and don’t listen to our instruction. We know what’s best and they ignore us – and we love them anyway. We reach out to hold them, to comfort them and then to give them instruction once again. Our Father is just like that – where do you think we learned it?

“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, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 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

If this year hasn’t brought a life of victory, maybe it’s because we are trying to do things on our own without reading the instruction manual, or it could be that our enemy has devised a plan against us. If it’s the former, we need to get in the book and take it to heart – “lean not to our own understanding, in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths”.

And if it’s the latter, get in the Word and take the authority that has been given us by the Father and put the enemy in his place. Don’t quit, don’t give up but go forward in the power and authority that the Father has made available to us.

“We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. 4 God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.” II Peter 1:3-5 CEV

We have been given everything we need to live a life of victory – we have been given God’s great and precious promises! He’s cheering us on today! Listen for His voice and follow His words.

Category: Jeremiah

Lost and Found

Cheerleading