August 11 / Every Day GOD: God's Get Out of Jail Free Card!

ex·ile

ˈegˌzīl,ˈekˌsīl/

noun

1. 1.

   the state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

   "he knew now that he would die in exile"

   synonyms:

   banishment, expulsion, expatriation, deportation

verb

1. 1.

   expel and bar (someone) from their native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.

   "a corrupt dictator who had been exiled from his country"

   
   

   
   

   synonyms: expel, banish, expatriate, deport, drive out, throw out, outlaw

   
   

   "he was exiled from his country"                                                                                       cap·tive

   ˈkaptiv/

   noun

   1. 1.

      a person who has been taken prisoner or an animal that has been confined.

      synonyms:

      prisoner, convict, detainee, inmate, abductee;

   adjective

   1. 1.

      imprisoned or confined.

      "the farm was used to hold prisoners of war captive"

      synonyms:

      confined, caged, incarcerated, locked up;

Jeremiah 29: 1-14

Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders in exile and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon.

2 This was after King Jeconiah [also called Coniah and Jehoiachin] and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.

3 [The letter was sent] by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said:

4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the captives whom I have caused to be carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

5 Build yourselves houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat the fruit of them.

6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not be diminished.

7 And seek (inquire for, require, and request) the peace and welfare of the city to which I have caused you to be carried away captive; and pray to the Lord for it, for in the welfare of [the city in which you live] you will have welfare.

8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your [false] prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you; pay no attention and attach no significance to your dreams which you dream or to theirs,

9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them, says the Lord.

10 For thus says the Lord, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place.

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.

13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.

Are you held captive? Do you want your life back? Are you stuck? In limbo? In circumstances beyond, waaaaay beyond, your control?

Here's God's "Get Out of Jail Free" card for you:

1. Settle down and settle in. Bloom where you are planted, even if you hate it there! (v. 5)

2. Get married, have children! In other words, get on with your life! Florish! Pursue your dreams! Don't waste away to nothing while you're waiting for deliverance. (v. 6)

3. Pray for your city! Look out for the welfare of your family. Ask around and find out what you can do to make your community a safer place for you and your neighbors. (v. 7)

4. Ignore naysayers. Stay away from those who cast a vision of fear and dread everywhere they go. Do not listen to any negativity! Don't allow it in your home, either! Oh and many of these false prophets call themselves Christians. They will prophesy negative garbage over your family. Stay away from them! If they happen to BE a member of your family, simply tell them you won't listen to negativity. Tell them as many times as it takes for them to shut up. God says "I have NOT sent them!" (v. 8, 9)

5. After your captivity is over, God will keep His Good Promise to You (verse 10)! In God's time, here's what He promises!

"I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.

When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.

Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

I’ll turn things around for you." Jeremiah 29:11-14 

the Message

"Thanks for Your clear and concise Word of truth, God! I pray that Your words will encourage someone today to just be happy! That one who feels stuck in an awful place in life. I pray that she just turns on some worship music and starts dancing in Your presence right now, God! Please put the desire in her heart to celebrate! To celebrate Your promises! Hallelujah! How I adore You!"