If And Then

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you. You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart."

I realize I quote Jeremiah 29:11 only, but the totality of the promise comes with the verses following. Yes, God only has good things in mind for us, to see us prosper and succeed and never plotting against us. However, we are called to contribute. We are to call out to God, pray, and THEN He will answer. We should seek Him and THEN we will find Him. Many times I've wondered where my blessing is, where my prosperity He promised is, but a lot of His promises come with an if/then clause.

2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

John 3:16 "For God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life".

God is willing to do for us if we will first step out and ask, believe, trust, have faith, etc. Otherwise God would just be a genie granting wishes to people. God is so much more than a genie. God is seeking a relationship with us that is a two way street. Most of us have been in a one sided relationship and know how that tires very quickly. It’s no different in our relationship with God. He desires people who want to have a relationship with Him. He created us with choices and not to be robots, mindlessly following. God is moved by our choice to believe and have faith. When we do that, we say “God I want this two way street, this is a give and take relationship with You.

Hebrews 11:6 "for without faith it is impossible to please God" God wants to bless us, but the challenge is to first put our trust/faith in Him. To dare to seek Him and know He won’t leave us. To call on Him and know He will answer. Faith is power. Faith is the ignition switch. Faith has us jump out of the boat like Peter and know you won't drown. Faith is building out of the box like Noah while others mock you, then watch God silence them and prosper you. Faith is to go where God tells you to go like Abraham, even though He's given you almost no details. Then watch God mark your name in history.

God's promises movement in response to our faith. I believe He has plans to prosper me and bring the future I hope for IF I will do my part. I'm challenged to pray and ask, and seek, and then see that He WILL move in my life and work it out in my favor.