“His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones.”

Jeremiah 19-21 and Isaiah 17

Reading through these three chapters there was a message that is not a very popular one, but still one we must learn to grasp and understand.

Beginning in chapter 19 we see that Jeremiah the prophet was given a word from the Lord to give to the leadership in a unique and visual way. This word of the Lord was not a soft, comforting word of encouragement, but the exact opposite as a word of rebuke and judgement. I am not sure about you but I have found that the body of Christ really enjoys the prophetic when it is soft, encouraging words of peace and love given in a manner that they have grown accustomed to. But they tend to struggle with another side of God that is Holy and that for the sake of the Kingdom and His laws that He has set into motion, where He must address the issues of the heart and the sin in our lives. Many times He will use unconventional methods to reach beyond our minds and to penetrate the spirit and heart.

As a prophet it is very difficult to bring a word of judgement, correction or rebuke, mainly because of the response that is usually given from this type of message from God. In Chapter 20 we see the leader Pashur lash out at the word given, by trying to punish the messenger. This lashing is taken very well by Jeremiah as he stays true to the word of the Lord that is “shut up in his heart and bones like a fire”

I love that even under persecution and ridicule and even having to face a request from King Zedekiah, that Jeremiah did not bow under the pressure but stayed true to Gods word for the Nation even though it wasn’t necessarily a soft word.

Prior to this Jeremiah has a moment of complaint and wrestling out his purpose and destiny. How can a person be so sure in sharing the words of God but then afterwards question his even being born and very purpose for existence. We are all human and these are the struggles that all believers face especially in the midst of trying situations.

We all may become unsure of who we are and why we are going through difficulties or seasons of persecution for our faith, but the one thing we must stay sure of is who He is and His word. We will declare like Jeremiah did in Chapter 20: 9.10 “But if I say, I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name, his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it indeed, I cannot”.  It is here at this place of obedience that God meets with us all.

Charmaine

Psalms 122 - Jerusalem

This psalms is about giving thanks for being able to go to the House of the Lord. Wow how many of us are excited to be able to come into the presence of the Lord? Into His house and into His family.

Then it begins to talk about a subject that should be near and dear to each believer’s heart, Jerusalem. Jerusalem was known as the “City of Peace” and here the psalmist tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. As I read this today I thought about the possibility that Israel could go to war any day now.

There are events happening and decisions being made half way around the world that affect us believers in a major way and we have been commanded to pray. But it goes on to say that there is a blessing to those that love Jerusalem, those that will declare peace and prosperity to her. Believers and non-believers alike tend to pray for the things close to them. We tend to pray for the branch and forget the tree it has been grafted into. God blesses many things, certain people and peoples groups, specific nations, holy objects and even land. He has blessed Jerusalem to be the City of David, the City of Peace. I am so grateful for the political stance that our country of Canada has made with Israel. So please as we enter into some of the most Holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, I ask you to please agree with the holy scriptures and pray for SHALOM to be with Jerusalem and with the people of Israel.

Charmaine Hinds