• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Lutheran Military Support Group

Supporting Lutheran active duty, veterans and their families.

  • News, Articles,
    Grants & Events
    • Their Stories Told
    • Active Duty/Veteran Profiles
    • Awarded Grants
    • Calendar of Events
  • Ammo Cans,
    & Resources
    • Printable Resources (Veteran’s & Memorial Day)
    • Christian Service Members’ Handbook
    • Ammo Can Request
    • Synod, Govt., & VA Assistance
    • PTS Support
    • Request a speaker
  • Ideas from
    the Trenches
  • Liaison Info,
    LMSG Board
    • Liaison
      Information
    • LMSG Board
      Members
  • Live Streaming
    Church Services
    • Past Devotions

12/30/2016 By swentzlaff

WEEKLY DEVOTION: WITH HOPE AND PRAYER

With a Hope and a Prayer

 

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).

 

We step into a new year with a hope and a prayer. We are wise enough to know that the future is unknown to us. We are bold enough to expect that the new year will be good to us.

 

The greeting, “Happy New Year!” is a wish. Our hope stands on something more solid. We call it a sure hope because it rests in a future that is certain. It is God-guaranteed.

“I know the plans I have for you…” The One who speaks those words is not wishing good things for us, he is preparing them.

 

“Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.” Harm is what we fear. Prosper is what we pray for.

 

However, to prosper does not mean that we become rich or famous—not in God’s book. The word Jeremiah used for prosper is the same as the word for peace. The warrior understands the value of peace better than most people.

 

Peace among nations reduces potential harm. Peace among comrades is a blessing. Peace within families is a treasure. Peace of mind is beyond value.

 

But all this pales in comparison to peace with God.

 

The echo of the voices of the Christmas angels still sounds in our ears. If there is peace between us and God, then everything is all right. Then everything is good. Then we have nothing to fear.

 

Dangers may arise and doubts may beckon. Our plans may come to nothing. God’s plans are always certain.

 

Who can oppose him? Can enemies or accidents or disease or frailty stop what he has in mind for us?

 

Name the threat that the new year might bring. Match that threat against the eternal, all-powerful One. Which is going to win? Which is going to fade like the fog?

 

The Christ of Christmas still rules heaven and earth. If he leads us through the dark valleys of life, he will be there to carry us to the bright peaks of life.

 

Our prayer for the new year is a big prayer. We skip over the little things that may bother us, but pass in time. We don’t want to just survive . We want victory.

 

That means, we want God.

 

That is our prayer.

 

We pray words from the Christmas hymn we once sang with child-like faith:

Be near me Lord Jesus; I ask you to stay

Close by me forever and love me, I pray.

Bless all the dear children in your tender care,

And take us to heaven to live with you there. Amen.

 

Written by Pastor Paul Ziemer, WELS National Civilian Chaplain

and Liaison to the Military, Cape Coral, Florida

Provided by WELS Ministry to the Military

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Weekly Devotions

Previous Post: « WEEKLY DEVOTION: INCOMING ANGELS
Next Post: WEEKLY DEVOTION: TELLING TIME »

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Wages of Sin 02/26/2021
  • Just Do It 02/19/2021
  • The Meaning 02/12/2021
  • Recognized 02/05/2021
  • Brothers 01/29/2021

$upport Our Cau$e JOIN OUR CAUSE

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Footer

External Links

LMSG is affiliated with the churches of the CELC, including:

ELS-logo-web

ELS-logo-web
WELS Privacy Policy 

copyright © Lutheran Military Support Group-2019


Lutheran Synod Digital Publishing

Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.