This was the instruction Jeremiah gave to Baruch, his faithful scribe, in chapter 45. [v.5]

This is the same message Jesus gave in all four gospels,

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”  [Matt. 16:25]

Look for opportunities today to give yourself to others for the cause of Christ.  The Lord will lead you.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I do trust You to lead me today.  Give me opportunities to be of service to others.  You’ve helped me.  I will now help others.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 46-50

Jeremiah was dropped into a cistern where he sank into the mud at the bottom.  God knew he was there, and provided able men to lift him out.  He couldn’t climb out.  He had to be lifted.

Sometimes we’re in a predicament we can’t climb out of.  The Psamilst said,                                       “I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
   He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
  He set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
  He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
  Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.”  [Ps. 40:1-3]

There may be a song in your future.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for Your arm of help when we need to be lifted.  We trust You today!

DAILY READING:  Jer. 36-40

One can get uneasy about the future when listening to news broadcasts, whether liberal or conservative.  It’s wise to realize that God directs the nations like we arrange cereal boxes on the shelf.  He has control.  Some are being used, some are empty and discarded, and some have yet to be opened.

The prophet Jeremiah was God’s mouthpiece, even when other prophets had conflicting declarations.  Let’s be careful what voices we listen to.  We can always trust God’s Word.

DAILY PRAYER;  Father, we find our refuge in Your Word and Your Kingdom.  Use us to be stabilizers to those around us.  We trust You.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 31-5

The prophet foretells of Christ Jesus when he declares,

“I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
    and do what is just and right in the land …
This is the name by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”   [Jer. 23:5,6]

All carnal leaders pale when contrasted to the Lord.  All Godly leaders who are true under-shepherds of Jesus allow God’s Spirit to shine through.

Paul said, “Be followers of me as I follow Christ.”  [1 Cor. 11:1]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for setting in Godly leaders to care for Your flock.  You are the Great Shepherd of our souls.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 26-30

Yesterday I got “huffy” with an insurance adjuster who called to tell me that I would have to pay for any days beyond 4 for the rental car I was driving until my truck gets fixed at the body shop.

His seeming rudeness, my frustration over the inconvenience of having repairs done on an accident I didn’t cause … the seeming injustice of it all.  Yet, I KNEW I needed to apologize to him for my tone.  I did. Left a message.  Done.

If not, I knew I’d hear from the Lord about it.  He watches us closely.

Keep your account as clear as possible.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for making us sensitive to not be offensive to others.  We forgive as we are forgiven.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 21-5

Jeremiah’s message was ‘turn from your sin and other gods back to the real God, Jehovah.’  To set up other gods to trust in is inherently sinful.

When you trust in other gods, who will deliver you when disaster strikes?

Although we don’t necessarily have enemies attacking our homes, we may have the enemy of disease or financial hardship.

It would be so hard to go through a disease without the hope Christ brings, or the comfort and support of the Christian community.  It is good to be a Christian.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, forgive me for taking so many blessings for granted.  Reach out, through me, to others who don’t have a trusting relationship with You.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 16-20

What have we placed our confidence in?

For Jeremiah’s audience, it was the Baals and other false Gods.  For us, it can be appearance, pleasure, leisure, lust, money, things, sports, cars, jewelry, education, power etc.

The prophet’s warning was this;

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
    or the strong boast of their strength
    or the rich boast of their riches,
²⁴ but let the one who boasts boast about this:
    that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
    justice and righteousness on earth,
    for in these I delight,”  [Jer. 9:23,24]

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, by Your Spirit and Your grace, give us the strength to readjust our focus from all else to You.  Forgive us for following after idols.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 10-15

Jeremiah’s message to God’s people was not popular. “They did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.”  [Jer.7:24]

God had said, “Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.”  [v. 23]

When our road gets ultra bumpy, or circumstances seem to be crying out, “This is not working.”  It may be time to return to the Lord.

Just the other day, I was suffering in my body.  I returned to the Lord by asking Him to give me relief.  It worked.  I sensed a warmth in my painful area and soon noticed the objectionable pain was gone.

DAILY PRAYER;  Lord, forgive us for forgetting Your power and desire that things go well for us.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 5-8

God protects His people.  He told the prophet Jeremiah that He would rescue him when his enemies came after him.  He enjoyed God’s protection his entire life, although he experienced persecution and hardship.

The Apostle Paul also experienced God’s protection until the appointed time of his death.  The Lord made it possible for him to be the major contributor of the New Testament, and we still benefit from the lessons God gave him.  He spoke of escape when he declared, “ The only temptation that has come to you is that which everyone has. But you can trust God, who will not permit you to be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, he will also give you a way to escape so that you will be able to stand it.”

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You are our protection and we thank You.  We trust every phase of our lives to You to be effective in this life as a witness for You.

DAILY READING:  Jer. 1-4

God loves us too much to leave us the way we are.

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”  [Heb. 12:5,6]

If our ways don’t line up with His, guess who has to change?

Malachi states that the processing is that we may offer an offering in righteousness … that the aroma of our life would be pleasing to the Lord.  Our God is a refining fire.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we do want to be like You.  Give us grace to endure Your dealings.  We trust You and the process You put us through.

DAILY READING:  Is. 63-6