I Will Listen to You.

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. 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.”

Jeremiah 29:12-14

Growing up being heard seemed impossible. The adults had their world and the older siblings had theirs too. Additionally, being a part of a small generation, half of which would rather be anonyms anyway doesn’t ease the feeling of isolation. So this part of Jeremiah stands out to me this morning. Have I physically been put into captivity? No, of course not. At least not like one would think. My chains were addiction and co-dependent relationships.

God honors His Word. I have experienced deliverance. I have been set free of unhealthy thinking patterns that resulted in vicious cycles of shame as well. Those cycles of shame feel like spiritual exile to me. I have to take a moment to remember that while I was still an enemy of God, Christ died for me. He knew the battle that would take place in the minds of those who chose to believe. We say in the minds but we understand it to be a spiritual battle that involves the whole being including their body, their temple.

Being able to call on God and pray to God as your Father with the understanding that the universe and everything whether seen or unseen obeys His commands concerning you. Yes you are that important. So call on Him. Seek Him and keep seeking until you get your breakthrough. He knows all about your chains, and why they are there and the exact reason you hold on to them. For me it was about being honest with myself before God and openly saying “I keep doing this _________ because that _________. You know what I’m going through. Can you replace, deal with the “that” and relieve/deliver me from “this” .

I pray you find the desire, and the courage, to call upon the Lord today. May God give you the grace you need to reach for more grace. His mercy is there, always there, already forever available and all debts are settled. I promise you that God is ready for your call to Him. His love is limitless as is HIs mercy and grace.