Every Two Weeks

I have had a bi-weekly reminder of God’s provision. I say bi-weekly as thought He has been silent in the interim, but bi-weekly is how often I get paid. The reminder of God’s provision is because the last four digits including decimal are 29.11. It is of no concern to you what precedes these numbers so I will continue.

The amount of my pay changed in the summer when a work purchase program ended and I received the remainder of my pay. It was perfect timing as He always has because I had been budgeting, trying to figure out when I could pay off such and such and how much I could save for a new car, and a down payment for a house. And I came to a realization that it still wasn’t enough for what I wanted to accomplish. However, it was and is enough for what I need.

It hit me one day when I opened the envelope to record in my bank book the deposit that God was trying to give me Jeremiah 29:11. 11 “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.”
God knows when all of those dreams will come true or if they will come true. I am to praise Him for providing what He provides, when He provides it.

I know that there are many who have had a rough financial time this year. I do not mean to smack a verse on it and make it all better. The context of the verse speaks volumes. God is speaking to the captives taken from Jerusalem to Babylon. He says, plant roots, it will be a while. Prosper in that city you find yourself, when the city prospers, you will prosper. Marry, have children, and all the while stay true to me because I am not finished with you. You won’t be there forever, just for seventy years, but I will come and fulfill my promises to you after that time. He says it best.
10 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. 11 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. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. [b] 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."

I know this is written to Israel, but I am encouraged by it today. I am reminded of Jesus’ words to the disciples in John 14;
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."

As I read these words today, I am encouraged by the Truth that Jesus is coming back. He will one day according to His gracious promise, come and release us from this spiritual exile we find ourselves now. We have planted roots, married, multiplied, and prospered along with those who do not believe as we do. But all the while, we know we are not home.

There is a lot going on in this world, in our country, in our homes, in our individual lives. And when I start to get overwhelmed with all the possibilities and unknowns of the future, God reminds me He has the plans. And as much as I hate the need to know basis of any relationship, this is one I have to learn to accept, and one I need many reminders to be still and know that He is God. And so He gives them to me, if not sooner, every two weeks.