Day 19

January 27

Devon Ragoonath 

Jeremiah 24:4-7

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. 

Chapter 24 of Jeremiah talks about two baskets of figs that God shares with Jeremiah as a vision for what He is doing this time. In today’s reading, God’s promises immediately catch my attention. He promises to watch over the exiles he sent off, He promises that He will bring them back, He will build them up and not tear them down and that He will plant them and not uproot them. God also promises that He will give them a heart to know Him and that He is the Lord. 

As we are almost one month into the new year, many of our “New Year’s resolutions” may be quickly fading off. My excitement and anxiousness have slowly fallen back into my previous routines. However, I am reminded here that God promises to build me up and not tear me down. God is the King of construction and is the best carpenter there is! He can renovate our hearts and our lives, our families, workplace, community, if we allow Him to take over. He will watch over us for our good! Giving away control can sometimes be a struggle as we all want to be in the driver’s seat. I once saw on a recent TikTok trend someone posting an encouragement piece saying… we can get on a plane and relax and have no clue who the pilot is, we can get on a boat and relax having no clue who the captain is, we can live in a house that was built having no clue who the builders and architects were, then why can’t we put our unwavering trust into God? God promises to give us a heart to know Him. He reminds us that we are his people and that He is our God. It is not too late to let God take control and renovate our hearts, lives, family, etc. Pray with me. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, I trust you. I know that you are God and that you only have in mind what’s best for me. I know God that you will always watch over me and build me up. I know that you will always show me what’s good for my own being. God, I know that I am yours and that even when I veer off course that you will bring me back. God, thank you for never leaving my side. I promise to do better this year in letting you in and letting you be in control.

In Your name, Amen.