Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

The Holy Spirit has recently given me a new perspective on God’s promises. The perspective is that God’s promises have activation clauses.

The first example of an activation clause that the Holy Spirit highlighted comes from…

Today’s scripture, Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT), which reads…
[10] This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. [11] For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [12] In those days when you pray, I will listen. [13] If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. [14] I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Consider…
Jeremiah 29:11 is a favorite scripture for many people, because God promises He has good plans for His children. Like most of God’s promises, in our haste to proclaim what God will do, we overlook His activation clause of what we must do.

In the case of God’s promise of His plan for a good and hopeful future, He includes the following activation clauses…

• Verse 12 stipulates…In those days when you pray

You see God’s people where in Babylon because of their rebellion and disobedience, thus God was saying, when they reengage with Him, restoration of relationship can begin, and the good hopeful future can be reinitiated.

Recall, verse 12 in its entirety says…
In those days when you pray, I will listen.

Thus reminds me of one my two best friends favorite verses, 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT), which declares…
[14] Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

The Holy Spirit is emphasizing God promises to listen to your prayers, but the activation clause is you must…

Prioritize
Recognizing, and reverencing
Adon, which means “lord” or “master”
Yahweh

Said another way, God’s listening is activated by our acknowledging He is Lord!

In addition to reactivating the lines of communication with God, He says in verse 13…

• If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

You see, God’s good and hopeful plan for us was really just returning to His presence.

The very next verse after my friends favorite verse, says…
2 Chronicles 7:15-16 (NLT)…
[15] My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. [16] For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.

God is saying, when we come home to Him, He will take care of us.

Notice, implicit in God’s caretaking promise is the activation clause of our sincere desire and effort to be where He is.

This reminds me of something I heard a preacher say, God’s Omnipresence is bigger than Him existing everywhere at once, instead it everywhere existing in Him.

That gives me a picture that no matter how far away we think we have strayed from God, if we just turn up we will find Him standing right there with arms open wide.

As I wrote that I heard Lauren Daigle singing…

Where are You now
When darkness seems to win?
Where are You now
When the world is crumbling?

Oh I, I-I-I, I hear You say
I hear You say

Look up child, ayy
Look up child, ayy

God says, when you wholeheartedly seek me, you will activate my good and hopeful plan of finding and being with me.

This truth is reinforced in Hebrews 11:6 (NLT), which says…And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Our faith pursuit of God activates His promise of our finding Him.

Unlike the childhood game many of us grew up playing, God’s not doesn’t want to play ‘hide-and-seek’ with His children. Instead, God prefers us to engage in ‘seek-and-find’.

So today, if you want to experience God’s promise of a good and hopeful future…

• Activate recognizing and reverencing Him as Lord of your life
• Activate a wholehearted ‘seek-and-find’ pursuit of Him

Today’s song is…
Open The Eyes Of My Heart

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)