Have you ever had someone say. . . “I’ve been thinking about you?”
While we assume those thoughts are good. . .we have no idea what they’re thinking or how long they thought about us.
On a spiritual level. . .God does bring people to our minds. . .people he wants us to pray for.
In this teaching, I want to talk about someone who thinks about you 24/7.
1 Peter 5:7 in The Living Bible says:
“Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.”
He is “always thinking about you.”
Not only that but He is “watching everything that concerns you.”
Can somebody say “Hallelujah”? You need to stop and really embrace that.
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 40:17 in The Living Bible which says:
“I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now!”
This teaching is about each of us having the confidence. . .the reward. . .the blessing. . .the benefit of knowing that God is thinking about us at this very moment … and he will enable us to do great and mighty things.
It will soon be the time of year we see pictures, plaques, bookmarks, pens, magnets and coffee cups and a few other things with Jeremiah 29:11 printed on them.
They make gifts for graduates. . .both high school and college. We want grads to know there may be a big, wide, unknown world out there…but they can trust God to guide them
Jeremiah 29:11 should provoke and direct all of us to a future with a purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 in the New International Version says:
“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.”
There are nine powerful thoughts God has toward YOU.
1. God is thinking about you.
Once while I was making a call to ministry partners for my mentor, I felt led to call a lady but the phone rang and rang. When she finally picked up and I told her who I was she started crying. She cried through the whole call but at the end she explained that she had been praying by the side of her bed asking God if anyone knew whether she was alive or not. And immediately her phone began to ring and it was my call.
Even if you didn’t know anyone is thinking about you … the best thing of all is when you have the scriptural assurance that the Master of the Universe. . .the Creator of Heaven and earth...your God. . . is thinking about you . . . that is so awesome it defies description!
That beats anyone else in the world thinking about you.
Jeremiah 29:11 says:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Let me quote Psalm 40:17 in The Living Bible one more thing. It says:
“I am poor and weak, yet the Lord is thinking about me right now!”
Consider these words found in 1 Corinthians 2:10 in the Message Bible very carefully. Here’s what it says:
“The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Whoever knows what you're thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he's thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don't have to rely on the world's guesses and opinions. We didn't learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we're passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way.”
God will also let you in on what He’s thinking about you.
Can anyone say “Hallelujah?”
2. God has plans for you.
We like to say that from the time you’re born people have plans for you. . .your Mom has plans on how she will dress you. . .your Dad has plans on what sports you’ll play. . .your friends like to choose where you go. . .your teachers have lesson plans. . .then your spouse tells you what they want for your life together . . .your employer has a job description for you.
Lots of people have plans for you; however, there’s only One person whose plans need to come first.
Jeremiah 29:11 in The Living Bible says:
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
The truth of the matter is God planned for you before you were ever conceived or born on planet earth. It doesn’t matter if your mom or your dad didn’t plan you … God did and that’s why you’re here.
Be assured He makes no mistakes. We do but He allowed it to happen for a reason way above our pay grade I guarantee you.
He allowed Abraham to have Ishmael even though he was not the promised child God spoke of.
God tells Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 in the Message Bible the plans He had for him from before the beginning of time:
“Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A prophet to the nations—that's what I had in mind for you."
There is no such thing as an illegitimate child. Every person on planet earth is no surprise to God.
Every life that comes upon planet earth was created with a purpose and a destiny. God makes no mistakes!
We made this point one time on our Rich Thoughts for Breakfast program and an older woman wrote us to say that something snapped in her mindset that day and it was the first time in her life that she realized it didn’t matter how she came into this world, God had a plan and a purpose for her. We all rejoiced over that breakthrough.
There are a number of scriptures which emphasize the point that God has plans for you.
Proverbs 19:21 in the New Century Version says:
“People can make all kinds of plans, but only the Lord’s plan will happen.”
Not only does God have plans for you. . .but they’re marvelous plans.
Psalm 40:5 in the Contemporary English Version says:
“You, LORD God, have done many wonderful things, and you have planned marvelous things for us. No one is like you! I would never be able to tell all you have done.”
3. God is thinking thoughts of peace toward you.
We are living in perilous times. Economic and political circumstances can change in an instant. There are those in the world who have a callous disregard for human life . . . people who plot terror against other people.
But in the midst of all the turbulence . . . Jehovah Shalom is thinking thoughts of peace toward you.
The American Standard Version of Jeremiah 29:11 says:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.”
It’s interesting to note that He’s not just thinking thoughts of peace toward people in general but rather thoughts of peace towards you specifically.
He even gives you instructions on how to keep your mindful peaceful in the midst of the storms of life.
Isaiah 26:3 in the Amplified Bible says:
“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”
There are numerous scriptures where we’re told we can live and walk in His peace. Here is a powerful one in Philippians 4:9:
“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
4. God has plans to prosper and bless you.
If you followed our teachings either through seminars, blogs, books or the Rich Thoughts For Breakfast calls, you know that we like to teach and preach on how God wants to prosper and bless you.
Some people are waiting to win the lottery or get on some television who that awards money. God has plans to bless you far beyond the realm of a “lucky break.”
It’s not whether or not you get the big performance bonus at work . . . God has plans to bless you.
It’s not whether or not you receive a large inheritance from a rich relative . . . God has plans to bless you.
It’s not whether or not your investment portfolio brings huge returns and dividends . . . God has plans to bless you.
3 John 2 says:
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
Here’s the bottom line. . .God has plans to prosper you. . .regardless of your circumstances. How and why? Because you choose to be obedient to His word.
Psalm 1:1 in the Amplified Bible says:
“BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.”
Stay in fellowship with God and you won’t be led astray.
5. God is not thinking evil about you.
If someone is thinking about you 24/7 . . . isn’t it comforting and reassuring to know that they’re not thinking evil thoughts but good thoughts toward you?
If you study scripture . . . it’s clear that God is thinking good about you.
Jeremiah 29:11 in the Amplified Bible says:
“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.”
Your ex may be thinking evil toward you . . . but not God.
By the way, stop complaining about your ex and begin praising God for your next.
Your former employer or best friend may be thinking evil against you . . . but not God.
A criminal element may be thinking evil about you or your property . . . but not God.
Psalm 56:5 in the Amplified Bible says:
“All day long they twist my words and trouble my affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil and my hurt.”
You and I have a part to play in overcoming evil. Romans 12:21 says:
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
In other words, God is not thinking evil toward us. . .but He is expecting us to do our part. . .against every evil assault of the enemy.
Psalm 25:19,20 says:
“Consider my enemies, for they abound; they hate me with cruel hatred. O keep me, Lord, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You.”
6. God will not abandon you.
Sadly, too many people who have been abandoned in their lives.
Spouses, children and even employers and employees have suffered abandonment. It’s a deep hurt. However, it is an eternal confidence to know God will never abandon us!
Jeremiah 29:11 in the Message Bible says:
“I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
Psalm 27:10 in the Living Bible says:
“For if my father and mother should abandon me, you would welcome and comfort me.”
There has been biblical research that says before David became King, he was barely considered a part of his family. He had the same father as his siblings but not the same mother.
Life can be rough as the outcast which might be the reason he wrote the Psalm we just read. And also the reason he became King. He clung to God when he had little or no earthly support.
Deuteronomy 4:21 in the New Living Translation says:
“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.”
Joshua 1:5 in the New Living Translation says:
“No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.”
The scriptures are very clear . . . people will come and go . . . BUT GOD will never abandon you. Now that is something to shout about!
7. God plans are to give you hope.
The scripture says in Proverbs 13:12 says “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick…”
Jeremiah 29:11 in New International Reader’s Version says:
“I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.”
The scripture is to referring to heaven although that is a blessed hope. It says that we have hope for “…the years to come.”
Hope is our healing balm that makes everything all right.
Hope gives us a way to look beyond the pain of loss . . . so we can anticipate better days.
Hope can be defined as the search for and anticipation of future good that’s achievable with God’s help and direction.
Romans 5:5 in the Amplified Bible says:
“Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.”
Here’s a reminder of what we read earlier in Isaiah 26:3 in the Amplified Bible says:
“You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”
God will give you hope . . . when you keep your mind focused on Him.
8. God wants you to enjoy success.
God wants you to be successful in everything your hands find to do. Barely getting by or giving up is not in God’s playbook of life.
Every coach hoping to head to the final four this month has a playbook. So does the God who invented basketball success.
And He gives you the formula for success in His Word.
Here is Jeremiah 29:11 in the New International Reader’s Version:
“I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord. “I want you to enjoy success.…”
Think about what God wants “…you to enjoy success.”
Have you ever seen anywhere in the Bible where God was delighted when someone failed? It’s not in the Book.
Not only does God want you to succeed He wants it extended to your whole family as well.
He proves it by telling you His covenant of love extends “to a thousand generations” numerous times.
Exodus 20:6 in the Amplified Bible says:
“But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
Psalm 105:8 in the Amplified Bible says:
“He is [earnestly] mindful of His covenant and forever it is imprinted on His heart, the word which He commanded and established to a thousand generations.”
Deuteronomy 5:10;7:9 and I Chronicles 16:15 also confirm the thousand generations reference. I encourage you to look these up and meditate on how much God loves you and your family.
2 Samuel 23:5 in the New Living Translation gives us a glimpse of the awe King David felt when He realized all God wanted for his family:
“Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success.
Our Heavenly Father wants you to be successful but your part is to believe in His Word regardless of your circumstances, situations and problems.
1 Chronicles 22:13 in the New Living Translation says:
“For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the Lord gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart!”
God wants you to be so successful that He gives you the formula for success. It’s found in Joshua 1:8. The Amplified Bible puts it this way:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.”
As I’ve pointed out many times before. . .in Joshua 1:8 we find the words “you” and “your” a total of six times. God wants you to be successful but you’ve got a part to play. The decisions you make today will determine your destiny tomorrow.
9. God has plans to give you a future.
I’ve seen your future and it look great. I have to be a prophet . . . just a man who believes the Word of God . . . and everything it says.
Jeremiah 29:11 in the New Century Version says:
“I say this because I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.”
God not only thinks about you. . .wants you to prosper. . .He’s also planned out your future.
Psalm 37:37 in the New Living Translation says:
“Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.”
Are you ready to shout?
1 Timothy 6:18-19 in the New Living Translation says:
“Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.”
In fact, the benefit of Jeremiah 29:11 is found in 1 Timothy 6:18-19. that confirms the goodness God has in mind for you and those you love.
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Harold Herring