His word burns like fire

Jeremiah 18-22


Jeremiah 20:7 O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived; 

you overpowered me and prevailed. 
I am ridiculed all day long; 
everyone mocks me. 

8 Whenever I speak, I cry out 
proclaiming violence and destruction. 
So the word of the Lord has brought me 
insult and reproach all day long. 

9 But if I say, “I will not mention him 
or speak any more in his name,” 
his word is in my heart like a fire, 
a fire shut up in my bones. 
I am weary of holding it in; 
indeed, I cannot. 

For quite a few chapters now, Jeremiah has been relaying God's destructive message to the people of Israel and Judah. He has been the bearer of bad news and the people pretty much want to "shoot the messenger". Jeremiah, may be a prophet, but he still is human. He still cries out to God, because the insults and mockery is quite unbearable. It says that Jeremiah once said he will not mention God's name or His words, but that is even more unbearable. God's words burn inside of him and there is no way he can just keep it to himself. 

Sometimes we hear from God, whether directly, through His word, our peers, or leaders. However, we choose to ignore it, and not do anything about it. We learn after enough times, that it is better to do something about what God has said, then to not do anything at all. I know that there are times God has spoken to me, and I have felt fear, of being ridiculed. This is a reminder that God's word is to be spoken out, regardless of the mockery that may come with it. His word is stronger then the insults that may come because of it.

Lord God,

Thank You for speaking to me. Thank You for using me as a vessel to carry Your word. I pray that You continue to use me as Your vessel. I also pray that Your word becomes so powerful in my life that it becomes unbearable for me to keep it to myself. Lord, give me the strength to withstand the ridicule that may come because of it. Teach me, oh Lord, how to take a step of boldness when relaying Your message. Make it uncomfortable for me to sit on my laurels when You have spoken.

Amen.

planted by water

Jeremiah 17:
5 This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” 

The Lord is telling Jeremiah that those who rely on man or on flesh for strength will not see prosperity, even when it comes. However, the person who relies on God will never have to worry and will always be prosperous.


I have failed! Although most of the time I place my confidence in God, there are times when I rely on man, or my own strength.Whenever, I rely on myself, that is when I begin to feel dry...I begin to stress, to worry and I find myself trying to quench the dryness in tears. I need to place my trust in the Lord 100% of the time. There is no doubt, that when I do place my trust in God, I never run dry. Imagine if I place my full trust in Him ALL the time, in all aspects of my life!


Lord!
Thank You for being that spring of water, that is forever quenching our thirst. Thank You for taking our fears and our worries and promising us prosperity. Please forgive me for not trusting in You fully. Lord, I pray that You help me at times I am weak, and I fail to trust in You. Lord, remind me to place my confidence, in the one person that can NEVER let me down. Lord Jesus, I place every aspect of my life: friends, work, relationship, family, spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical into Your hands. I pray that I never have to worry and that these areas of my life will be fruitful! Thank You.


In Your merciful name,
Amen.

my life is not my own

Jeremiah 10-13

Jeremiah 10: 23 I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. 24 Correct me, Lord, but only with justice— not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing

Our lives do not belong to us. God created us, gave us breath and when we allow Him to, directs our paths. However, there are many times we try to plan out our lives. Making decisions for ourselves, forgetting to turn to God first. When God corrects us, it is because He is just and He loves us. If He was to correct us out of anger, we would be nothing. His power is too strong and at times when He has been angry at His people, His punishment brought them to nonexistence.


There are so many times when I try to take my life into my own hands. Of course when I do that, my life begins to go off track and I fail. I need to remember that it is for God to direct my steps and not me. My life is in His hands, and I've asked Him to lead me, so I need to stop being stubborn and let Him.

Lord,
You are just and fair. You loved me even when I turned my back from You. You love me even when I forget to cry out to You. You are love. God I pray that You forgive me. Forgive me for trying to take my life and my relationship into my own hands once again. I see where my relationship has gone, since I've forgotten to surrender it to you daily. So God, I surrender my relationship once again into Your hands. I surrender my tears, my emotions, my happiness, my heart, my next step into Your hands and I pray for guidance. Lord, correct me in the ways that I have been wrong, out of justice Oh God, and not out of Your anger. I pray for reconciliation. I pray for peace, peace over my heart, peace over his, peace over our relationship. I love You God, and I know You hear the deepest cries of my heart. 


In Your peaceful name,
Amen.