Last Friday this blog looked at the awesome way that God encouraged and called Jeremiah.  This  past week, our leadership group used four of the verses to guide our prayers.  In particular, we read the following:

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”   (verse 5)

 “Do not say, ‘I am a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”  (7-8)

Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth.  And the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.  See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”  (9-10)

 “I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.  They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.” (18-19)

We had a brief discussion of the ways that these verses apply to us as witnesses and ambassadors for Christ.  The following were mentioned:

• The LORD is with us – being strong and courageous comes from His strength
• God knows our days and what we need
• God knows the opposition we will face, and He is more powerful
• Obeying the LORD gives us confidence
• God will give us the words we need to say when we are His witnesses.

 We moved into a time of prayer, particularly asking for strength, encouragement, and obedience in the issues we would discuss that evening.