Many times we seek the promises of God, before we seek the presence of God. Yet, sometimes God’s promises can become an obstacle to what He most wants to give us: Him and His presence. We can become preoccupied with God’s promises and miss the best of what He has for us; we miss a heart for God and the things that are important to His heart. When we find God, we find all of Him, including His heart to bless and care for the ones He loves.
God has been teaching me the joy and awesomeness of His presence. He is revealing to me that it is His presence that is the most important truth of all. God wants us just because He loves us. He does not want us for what we can do for Him. He want us just because He longs for us. “The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Jeremiah was told this truth in Jeremiah 29:11-14. This passage is renown in Christian circles because it contains a promise concerning God’s awesome plans for us. But, when we examine the whole passage there is an even greater truth. When Jeremiah was seeking the Lord concerning Israel’s exile, Jeremiah discovered that when He had the Lord, He would have the promises of God. as well.
“For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile’” (Jeremiah 29:10-14).
God tells Jeremiah that He has a promise for Israel. In verse 11, the subject is the plans God has, but in the following verses the subject switches to the Lord being the focus. It crescendos in the first part of verse 14, when the Lord tells Jeremiah that when they seek the Lord with all of their heart and not the promises, they would find Him. And, in the last part of verse 14, when they find the Lord, they will find the promises of provision as well.
The declaration in this passage is to choose of the Lord over the promises of the Lord. When He becomes the priority of our lives, we will have everything. It is not that the Lord waits for us get things right; it is that when He is the focus of our heart, there is order in our lives.
When I seek what Paula can do for me and give me, it abuses her and our relationship. But when I seek to love her just because I love her, all the other things will be released as expressions of our relationship and not duty or task. It is the same way with God. When we first seek Him with all of our hearts, the heart of our God will be released into our lives. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
Are you focused on the promise or the presence of God?
Are there promises in your life that are unfulfilled? Maybe He is waiting for you to seek Him instead.
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5 Comments
Brother Rick, Lord tell me that now is time(2009) when He answers my prayers that I have an open sky for my prayers and now is the time to realize the promise He had for me. One of those promises was a husband. The Lord confirmed with visions and proverbs. The Lord promised that he is really the one for me and He told me about the future with this man and me. I know him about two weeks when he got in relationship with a sister from other country, and now I’m confused. And I know it has something with Jeremiah 29.11-14. Please pray for me, I really want to know the truth because God promised me!!!! God bless you.
P.S I know this: In heaven we don’t have husbands and wives and children…We all looking in perfect LOVE-GOD
Julijana, That is a very good question. I hear this same scenario occurring all of the time. When God speaks what He says will come to pass; His Word cannot fail (Is. 55:10-11). But, there are some very important questions for you to consider. I will respond to you in private. I do not want such a sensitive question to be put out for everyone to see unless you want me to write about this question publicly. God cares about the things you care about.
I will be glad if you would respond to me in private.!!! Thanks and be blessed.
Rick,
Just wanted to tell you how much this blessed me. Just a few weeks ago my 1 month old baby was hospitalized with a very high fever. After many many tests the doctors determined she had viral meningitis. A very serious infection of the spinal fluid covering the brain. My family and friends and church all rallied around us and were praying for her recovery. It had been almost 3 days and her fever had not broken. Everybody especially Jeff and myself had been prsying for a miracle. Believing in the promises that God is the divine healer. After three days she was not any better and was still running a high fever. I remember it was very late on the third day and I was praying and i asked God out of frustration, “God where are you. I trust you and I love you but where are you in this?” He spoke to my spirit instantly and said “I am right here Tiffany, I will not leave you” After he said this i stopped praying and just rested in his presense and his peace. Hannah’s fever broke 5 minutes later. I know because I was holding her. She was released the next morning. I learned praying is good and important, but sometimes he just wants us to let him love on us and being in his presence to help us through a tough situation. Thanks Rick. Love hearing you preach again via facebook!!
Tiffany Walters
Thanks Tiffany for the encouragement. When Michele was a little girl she had viral meningitis. I just cried for you when I read this. Truly our God is a comfort and a healer. He will never leave us.
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