Jo Bower's Blog

Personal Babylon
SCRIPTURE: JEREMIAH 29:1, 4-7
INSPIRATION: DEVOTIONAL DISCIPLES 08 07 2013
SUBJECT: GROW WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED
DATE: 08 09 2013
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I’ve always thought I could be happy anywhere
If my reason for being there was good enough and I had
My piano, a place to minister, a computer with internet,
And, oh yes, my husband.
But it’s really not that simple.

There are times when life-needs cause the family clustered places to make a difference.
There are places where the culture encourages and provides venues for the gifts I have.
There are places where certain institutions are located and provide career satisfaction.
There are times God physically and sometimes, by circumstances, emotionally
Sends us to none of these places.

We feel like we’ve been exiled to our own personal Babylon,
Where we are different from everyone around us.
We are tempted to go into what I privately have called a ‘missionary mode:’
We don’t expect not to be in control, nor have close friends,
We expect things will always be different. Normal will never return.

But that’s not how Jeremiah the Prophet explains God’s message to Babylon’s exiles.
Like us, the Judeans wanted things to work like they always had.
But the old answers didn’t work anymore.
They were no longer in control of their way of living.
Something had happened and life would never be the same.

God’s message was, and is to me, to accept reality.
Meet life as it is now head-on with His help, and find new answers.
Work for the betterment of the community of people we find ourselves in.
Or allow God to use the set of circumstances we find ourselves in
To bring us to a new spiritual place and new place of service.

God will give us courage,
And insight,
Acceptance by people around us,
And the ability to adapt, accept the situation, people – our perceived Babylon.
And life can again become fulfilled, fruitful, hopeful and blessed.

Jeremiah 29: 1, 4-7 Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004

Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. 4. This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”