"'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.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

Jeremiah 29:11 is many people’s favorite verse of Scripture. It’s always popular this time of year when students are graduating from high school and college. And it comes in handy when we face uncertainty, calamity, or tragedy. We are encouraged by this verse of Scripture because we find comfort, hope, rest, and peace in knowing that God has a plan for our lives. He knows the plans He has for us and His plans are good. His plan is not to harm us. His plan is to prosper us and to give us a hope and future. With that kind of news, it’s no wonder this Scripture ends up on our favorites list time and time again!

But have you ever dug deeper into this passage to see what it says before and after “everyone’s favorite verse?”

Here’s Jeremiah 29:11 in context, “This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill My good 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 on 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.’” (Jer. 29:10-14)

God’s people were prisoners and had been captives for seventy years when the Lord gave them the promise of a good future. What about you? Does this apply to your life? If you have found yourself living in a major captivity of emptiness, depression, anger, anxiety, failure, poverty, and destruction, God has good news for you today!

He has good plans for you that will bring hope and a future.

Then, the following verses tell us how to tap into the promise of God's good plans! It seems we have a role to play in obtaining God’s promise of a great future, His plan to prosper and give us hope. And it’s easy. We don’t really have to “do” much. He promises that if we call on Him, come to Him, pray to Him, and seek Him with all of our hearts that He will be found by us, and He will bring us back from captivity!

So, are you ready to experience a bright future and His good plans for your life?

Today, call on the Lord and seek Him with your whole heart. Talk to the Lord, pray, pour out your heart to Him, and He will be found by you! When you find the Lord in a tangible way, you will find His mercy, love, forgiveness, grace, favor, and peace. He will bring you back from captivity, and He will order your steps into the plans He has for you, plans to prosper you and give you a hope and a future!

Say This:
“Father, I am so glad that You know the plans You have for me. I am so thankful that Your plans are to prosper me and to give me a hope and a future. Lord I come to You, I pray to You, and I seek You with all of my being. I humble myself before You, and I search for You. Thank You that I will find You in a new and fresh way, and You will bring me back from captivity, and You will lead me into the plans You have for me! In Jesus’ Name. Amen."