As a believer, do you ever feel displaced? I do. I grew up in a small American town where God was honored. Most people went to church. The media disallowed profanity and immorality. We respected the President whether we liked him or not.<\/p>\n
Sad to say, the world I once knew has drastically changed. Although I now live in Canada, I am still an American citizen. To my dismay, I have watched the political, spiritual, and moral decline of both countries. I often feel helpless in view of all the negative media. I\u2019d love to escape the atrocities that are overtaking our world.<\/p>\n
If you feel as I do, you probably have a few questions. Why is God allowing all this? What will happen to you \u2014 and to those you love? What is God\u2019s purpose for your life? Is there anything you can do to make a difference?<\/p>\n
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The answer may be found in Jeremiah 29.<\/p>\n
The divided nation of Israel was in political and spiritual decay when God called Jeremiah to become her prophet. This priest wasn\u2019t happy with his new role. Apparently, writing letters \u2014 not so nice letters \u2014 to the captives in Babylon was part of his job description.<\/p>\n
But there was an upside. Jeremiah informed his displaced countrymen, especially their spiritual leaders, that God had a plan. It boiled down to something like this: \u201cListen, like it or not, you\u2019re not leaving Babylon for seventy years. So quit dreaming of going home, and get on with your lives.\u201d He then outlined God\u2019s five-step program for their survival in captivity. You might want to take notes.<\/p>\n
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Accept where you are as God\u2019s plan.<\/strong><\/p>\n Although the Israelites created most of their own misery, God still referred to them as people \u201cwhom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon\u201d (Jeremiah 29:4, KJV). In other words, God allowed <\/em>His people to be displaced for good reason.<\/p>\n The Judeo-Christian worldview in our Western civilization is being challenged as never before. As Christians, we feel more and more like foreigners in our own countries. Who are these people who demand we think and act and talk to please them? Where have our freedoms gone? And where is God in all of this?<\/p>\n Daniel probably entertained similar questions. When the Israelites were exiled to Babylon, he was selected with three other Jewish boys from noble families to become scribes for King Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s court. But in spite of his unfamiliar surroundings, Daniel stayed true to his cultural roots of faith.<\/p>\n This young man\u2019s faithfulness and obedience to God caused Babylon\u2019s amazed king to declare, \u201cTruly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings . . .\u201d (Daniel 2:47). Daniel became chief to the monarch\u2019s wise men and governor of the province of Babylon. He was certainly not liked by everyone and was persecuted for his faith. But through him, the Israelites received great comfort in knowing that God was still in control.<\/p>\n God wants to bless you where you are. He selected you to be born in this exciting time in history, and to be a part of what He is doing in our world. You may never be in the limelight like Daniel, but you count. Our Lord Jesus \u201cis able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us\u201d (Ephesians 3:20).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Make plans to settle.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jeremiah told the people to \u201cBuild houses and dwell in them\u201d (29:5a). That\u2019s not what they wanted to hear! But God knew it would be in their best interest to unpack their bags and stay awhile (like seventy years!). They might as well live comfortably.<\/p>\n I can understand the Israelites\u2019 adverse reaction. When I married, I had no idea what a diverse neighborhood we would live in. I would love to have been surrounded by Christians, but that was not God\u2019s plan. Within a two-block radius of our home are Sikhs, Muslims, Protestants and Roman Catholics, Hindus, and the non-religious.<\/p>\n My husband and I believe God wants us to be His light to our neighbors. We invite them into our home. We walk with some around a nearby park, converse in our yards. We feel honored when we\u2019re invited to their weddings, funerals, and birthday parties. These connections have opened doors for us to counsel and pray with some of them.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to put down roots where you are \u2014 and be witnesses to others!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nourish yourself and others.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jeremiah\u2019s next instructions to those in captivity were \u201cPlant gardens and eat their fruit\u201d (29:5b). In other words, now that you\u2019re settled, think about ways to survive and thrive together.<\/p>\n Think community gardens. I love driving by those plots of ground in the middle of a busy city that are reserved for vegetation. It warms my heart to think that people from all walks of life are working together and sharing the fruit of their labor with those less fortunate.<\/p>\n A number of years ago my husband and I became involved in an evangelical outreach program in our city \u2014 the most rewarding thing we have ever done. Those of us on the interdenominational leadership team disagree on certain Christian doctrines, but we set aside our differences in order to harvest souls for Jesus Christ. One can\u2019t read John 17 and not feel God\u2019s heartbeat. He yearns <\/em>for His children to \u201cbe one\u201d in order to carry out His mission to all the nations.<\/p>\n Keep your eyes open for Christian events where Jesus Christ and His Word are front and center. Ask God for love and discernment, and be prepared to leave the comfort zone of your own backyard. God may have a \u201ccommunity garden\u201d in mind for you! When you nourish others, you nourish yourself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reach out to others.<\/strong><\/p>\n Next, Jeremiah told Israel, \u201cTake ye wives and beget sons and daughters\u202f.\u202f.\u202f. that you may be increased there, and not diminished\u201d (29:6, KJV). By that he meant, don\u2019t live just for yourself. Pray for spiritual children so that your life will make ripples throughout eternity.<\/p>\n I learned this truth several years ago while attending a women\u2019s retreat on personal evangelism. We were challenged to think of ten women in our neighborhood we could influence for Christ. I thought the number was rather high, but I obediently jotted down every woman I knew \u2014 or sort of knew \u2014 on our block and nearby streets. I couldn\u2019t believe my eyes. I wrote down exactly ten!<\/p>\n I quickly realized I needed to pray more, be more visible, more hospitable, and more available.<\/p>\n Look around you. Are you willing and available for God to help others through you? Perhaps He can use you best right where you are at this moment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pray for your nation.<\/strong><\/p>\n Jeremiah also told the captive Israelites that God wanted them to \u201cseek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it\u201d (29:7). These are not easy orders if you don\u2019t like the leadership or policies.<\/p>\n Abraham Lincoln is alleged to have said, \u201cI have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.\u201d<\/p>\n God has placed you in your neighborhood \u2014 and in your nation. Pray for your president or prime minister. Pray for your local politicians and people. Pray for policies to pass that will reflect the wisdom and will of God.<\/p>\n Can you make a difference in this world gone awry? Yes. It is quite possible that, like Esther, the Jewish queen of Persia\u2019s King Ahasuerus, you may have \u201ccome to the kingdom for such a time as this\u201d (Esther 4:14).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a believer, do you ever feel displaced? I do. I grew up in a small American town where God was honored. Most people went to church. The media disallowed profanity and immorality. We respected the President whether we liked him or not. Sad to say, the world I once knew has drastically changed. Although […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":335,"featured_media":4256,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n