Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Path of Life

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11



Most of us are familiar with the above passage of scripture. My hubby and I spend a lot of time talking about our future. Our dreams, our goals and our purpose in life. Sometimes it seems that maybe we have a glimpse at the road ahead, but that is usually when something happens and God sends us in a different direction.

I actually looked up Jeremiah 29:11 in different translations this morning because I have always had a little trouble with this scripture and the word prosper.

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. The Message

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. The Amplified Bible



My husband being in the financial industry prosperity is linked with money and success and I just don't think that is the interpretation that God intended for this verse. I actually love both The Message and The Amplified Bible translations. Plans to take care of you, not abandon you, from The Message and plans for welfare and peace from The Amplified Bible both of these translations bring great comfort to me.

I know it isn't about prosperity like we view prosperity. It is about our final outcome. Our future hope of spending eternity with Him.


Today I am joining Emily at Chatting on the Sky for Tuesdays Unwrapped. On this Tuesday I am Unwrapping the gift of the Trust. I know that we will continue to talk about our plans and dreams. I know that we will continue to try to catch a glimpse of where God is leading us. However, my prayer today is that the path we choose to follow is His and not ours and I pray that we can always trust God's leading and not try to find our own way.

10 comments:

Playing Sublimely said...

I love this post, and I love it that you get my "stay four forevever" thing...and wow, you live in SD...are you cold a lot :)?!?! Loved meeting you!

Michelle said...

Thank you Amy. I really needed to hear this today. I know we have been struggling with God's plans for our future. I love that you unwrapped "Trust" as we all need to trust God with our futures.

Lisa-Jo Baker said...

Thank you for offering this version of such a well worn verse. It is a deep comfort and grace to hear it this way, to be reminded that God's idea of wealth is very different from ours and that we don't need to measure ourselves based on the world's yard stick! What a comfort.

Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama said...

So true! I don't think the Bible is referring to financial prosperity either but that enormous blessing knowing where our final destination is..thanks for a great post!

Michelle DeRusha said...

I really like The Message version. Thanks for sharing different interpreations of this verse. I usually pretty lazy and don't stray beyond what my own Bible says...it's good to break out of the box every now and then!

Deidra said...

My daughter has that verse tattooed on her wrist. It's wonderful to know that God is in control. Now...if I could just remember that. A tattoo for me, perhaps?

Dawn said...

oh to trust...
thanks for sharing this with me today. something to rest in!

Southern Gal said...

My friend who passed away last May used to quote this Bible verse all the time. It was his favorite. When I read that verse now I think of it in light of the fact that God still knows the plans and Dean is now seeing his God face to face. Thanks for the reminder.

Traci Michele said...

beautiful Amy! So nice to meet you!

I love your blog!

Hugs,
Traci

Corinne Cunningham said...

I also like both of those - thank you for putting this out there today... I could read this post daily :)