This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. Jeremiah 17:5-6 NLT
As we start 2024, these verses challenge me to consider who I am relying on. Is it myself? My family?My close friends? My employer? Though all these play an important role in my life and influence me from day to day, the only one I should rely on is God.
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT
Lord, help me put my full trust and confidence in you alone! As I navigate through 2024, may I never forget that you are the One in complete control. May my roots run deep in the soil of our relationship. May I never settle for a surface friendship with You, Jesus, but rather strive for intimacy and closeness. For when I am close to You, you give me strength and hope, joy and peace! For the branch that remains in the vine bears much fruit, but apart from You, I can do nothing.