Jeremiah 36-38

King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Babylonians, for the Babylonians may hand me over to them and they will mistreat me."

"They will not hand you over," Jeremiah replied. "Obey the LORD by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared."

Although Jeremiah has been telling Zedekiah, King of Judah, to surrender to the Babylonians, he kept refusing to do so. From a human perspective, I can understand his fear. His act of surrendering to the Babylonians, which may seem very cowardly, would result in him being rejected and mistreated by his own subjects. However, God was telling him to do so through Jeremiah.

Sometimes God's word does not make any sense to us. But if we put our trust in his word and obey him by doing what he tells us, everything will go well. Let us not doubt God by disobeying his words. What is God telling us to do right now?

Jeremiah 33-35

Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to his countrymen. You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name. But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again.

It's talking about how the Isaelites granted freedom to their slaves according to their covenant with God, yet later they forced them to be their slaves again. This passage reminded me of all the unfulfilled promises I made onto God. When I realize that I need to change and do all these things for God, I am quick to make many promises to God. However, after a while, when I do not have that conviction and passion any more, I do not take them seriously and just forget about them. Also, it's talking about ongoing sin in our life. We are weak in different areas, but we all have sins that we tend to go back to.

Let us ask God for forgiveness for our unfaithfulness and wickedness. And also let us surrender all of our weakness to him, so that he can empower us to live a holy life through the power of his spirit.

Jeremiah 31-32

I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plan them in this land with all my heart and soul.

This is what God told the Israelites. It's so amazing to see God's heart for them. He said "I will never stop doing good to them.. I will rejoice in doing them good.." God delights in doing good to his people. That's you and I! And all of his children. Although God disciplined the Israelites because of their sin, God's plan was to bring them back and restore them.

I am so thankful that God is in control of our lives. He knows what we are going through. Let us trust him and his perfect plan for us!

Jeremiah 28-30

This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Due to their sin and rebellion, the Israelites were in captivity for seventy years. They were God's chose people yet had to pay the consequences of their sin. The passage talks about God's plan for his people. Although they sinned and rebelled against him, God's plan for them did not change. He said he will give them hope and a future and surely bring them back from captivity.

This reminded me of how God's plan for us is always good and perfect. Sometimes we grow impatient and weary when things don't happen. However, let us remember, once again, that God is our father who knows what and when is best for us. Indeed, "every good and perfect gift" comes from God alone. Let us praise him this day for his unfailing promises and unchanging love! Hallelujah!

Nehemiah 8-10

"Stand up and praise the LORD you God, who is from everlasting to everlasting."

"Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You gave life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you."

We need to be reminded each day, the moment we wake up, that we are living in God's creation. He created us and all things we see and don't see. And this great God loves us so much that he saved us through his only son, Jesus Christ. We are so privileged to be called his own.

Let us remember our place this day. God does not work for us, but we are to obey him in faith. It is only through God that we can hope to make any sense of this life. Let's keep our eyes on our God this day and praise him for who he is.

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I did read chapters from Jeremiah, but as I was praying God reminded of this psalm. As I prayed for God’s wisdom and guidance regarding my career, God told me he is my shepherd. He is the one who is leading and guiding my path. As long as I am following and yielding to God, he will do everything – he makes me lie down, restores my soul, guides me, and comforts me.

Because of the uncertainty I am facing, I am often fearful and worrisome. However, I know that should not be an attitude of a believer. If we believe in God, we should trust him with every area of our life.

Let us acknowledge God as our shepherd this day. He alone is our provider and satisfier.