Keep Praying

In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” [Jeremiah 29.12-14]

What days? The days of captivity - 70 years of captivity, to be precise.

This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. [Jeremiah 29.10]

Let's process all this, shall we?

God will listen to our prayers from the midst of our captivity. It may take a while, but God will listen and answer our prayers.

What are those prayers to be about? Well, it doesn't take rocket science to understand that repentance would be in order, because their captivity did not happen for no reason! 

Why were God's people in captivity? Because of their blatant idolatry.

What does it tell us if Israel's idolatry took 70 years to repent of before they would see deliverance? It tells us to pray, repent, and trust.

It is no mistake that God said, "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." God is, without question, calling His people to the First Commandment:

“You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.3]

Perhaps God's people today are in a captivity of sorts... It seems man has wandered so far away from God alone that release from the grip of his own man-made idols is out of man's control. It is as if there is no way these idols could ever be broken free from - at least not in our lifetime... It could take years... even generations... like 70 years...

Here's the thing: are we willing to pray for something wholeheartedly that we may not experience ourselves? Are we willing to pray for something because we believe the following verse for our children or grand children?

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [Jeremiah 29.11] 

It's a sobering thought! But! Hebrews 11 teaches that we are in good company if we are willing to stay in faith - to keep praying - to keep repenting - to keep believing... even if we don't see the promise with our own eyes!

All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. [Hebrews 11.39]

Father, of course I want to see what I pray for come to pass. However, even if I don't, Your promises are good for the generations after me and therefore worthy of my patient and persistent repentance and prayer. Forgive us for our trusting in so many things today besides You! Help us to methodically repent and seek Your face understanding that Your First Commandment is still our First Commandment. So be it.