In chapter 29, we read God saying, “ I know the plans I have for you,” and those plans include prosperity. We grow these fruits through trust and active steps with God through the harm and hurts that are part of reality. In the end, chasing after our plan keeps us from experiencing the fruits of the spirit ( Galatians 5:22-23), which God wants us to experience. The good they promised was not in line with the plans of God. 8-9) not to listen to diviners that deceive because he did not send them. They keep saying to those who despise me,Īnd to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts 'Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you In Jeremiah 23:16-17, we read God’s command to not listen to prophets with vain hopes and promises of an easy life for people who follow after their own hearts. He uses things that seem good to keep us from experiencing good in the plans God has for us. However, the enemy knows our design to seek good and our desire to choose our version of good. Throughout the days of Creation, God called his work good, and he has never stopped declaring his desire for good to be seen through his workmanship, which we are. There is so much available for those who love God and receive from Him. What 'For I Know the Plans I Have for You' Doesn't Mean Sometimes it includes our view of prosperity, and sometimes it doesn’t. The thoughts, intentions, and purposes of God are to help us experience his good no matter how much bad gets mixed in. He tells them to build homes, plant food, and settle down ( Jeremiah 29:5-6). And God’s love shines through in the restoration he promises to his people. Consequences occurred as a result of broken and wayward living. It is his intention to bring us closer to him and closer to his original design, for our sake, and for his kingdom.Īlthough God’s people were repeatedly unfaithful, God remained faithful. God knows the thoughts and intention of his heart for us, which is always for restoration. He knows how to cultivate good things and new growth, even after decades of destruction and defiance. God knows the big picture for all humanity, from the beginning of time until the end. When God says, “ I know the plans I have for you,” he says he knows what we do not know. The Hebrew word translated as “plan” also means thoughts, intention, and purpose. Was this good? I bet they didn’t think so. God allowed these consequences without losing one ounce of love. Through Jeremiah, God also speaks to the Israelites exiled from Jerusalem, saying, “ I know the plans I have for you.” At this point, they experienced a lot of hardship due to their idolatry and King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule. The people of Israel were deeply ingrained in idol worship, and God called them to repentance. Most of Jeremiah’s words spoke of judgment. Ironically, this popular verse came from a prophet who was very unpopular. ![]() What Did God Mean When He Said, “For I Know the Plans I have for You…?” If we rely on our definition of good, absent God’s larger view, we set ourselves up for disappointment and miss seeing God’s good play out. This is critical to keep in mind when we consider Jeremiah 29:11. ![]() Yet, we continually seek our version of good over God. Our desire for good is meant to draw us toward God, who is good and gives good things to his children ( Matthew 7:11). Since man’s disconnect with God in the Garden of Eden, we seek good for ourselves, believing we can discern all that’s good and evil without God’s help. What God put in us was meant to find good in him. Unfortunately, our desire for good gets wonky and mixed up. It’s in our God-given design to seek out good. Typically, we interpret the idea of prosperity to mean a life free of bad and full of good. Perhaps plenty of money and vibrant relationships. To be prosperous, we may believe, is to have an abundance of what feels good or seems good to us. It’s reassuring to know there is a good plan, especially if it means something better than we know now. We need hope that good things are available for us, especially when life seems full of bad things. We love to know good things are ahead of us. Perhaps one of the most popular and well-loved verses in Scripture is Jeremiah 29:11.
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