Today’s Reading:
Jeremiah 16–17, Psalm 96, John 16
Estimated Reading Time: About 17–19 minutes for the Scripture + devotional (not including journaling)
Journaling Time: About 5–7 minutes to answer and reflect on the application questions
Journaling Time: About 5–7 minutes to answer and reflect on the application questions
Scripture Focus
“Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to you and say, ‘Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols.’” — Jeremiah 16:19 NLT
“For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: In your own lifetime, before your very eyes, I will put an end to the happy singing and laughter in this land. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard.” — Jeremiah 16:9 NLT
“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… Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7–8 NLT
“O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My 🙌 are for you alone!” — Jeremiah 17:14 NLT
“Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of 🙌! He is to be feared above all gods.” — Psalm 96:2, 4 NLT
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth… He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.” — John 16:7–8, 13–14 NLT
Reflection
If I heard God say, “I will put an end to all joy in the land” (Jer. 16:9), I would be terrified and heartbroken. It’s like when you were a kid and your parent gave you that look — the one that silently said, “You’d better stop now.” Only this is far more serious. This is our Heavenly Father warning His people that their sin has reached a breaking point.
The people of Judah would not stop worshiping worthless idols. They refused to listen, obey, or honor His commands. But not Jeremiah. In the middle of a rebellious culture, he remained faithful, bold, and unshaken. He is a godly example to us today — living for God even when surrounded by people who want to push Him out of their hearts and minds.
Jeremiah’s secret? He trusted in the Lord. His hope and confidence were not in himself or his abilities — because the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). Instead, he leaned entirely on the Lord, asking Him to search his heart, guide his steps, and keep him rooted like a tree planted by the riverbank, drawing from the living water of God’s presence.
In John 16, Jesus gives us the same call — but also the power to walk it out. He promised the Holy Spirit would come after His departure. The Spirit is our Advocate, our Guide into all truth, our source of conviction and courage, the One who glorifies Jesus through us.
Digging Deeper
1. “Trust” — bāṭaḥ (בָּטַח) — Jeremiah 17:7
Means to feel secure, be confident, rely upon. It’s not a casual hope but a settled confidence rooted in God’s proven character — no matter the storms around us.
2. “Refuge” — maḥseh (מַחְסֶה) — Jeremiah 16:19
Means shelter, protection from danger or storm. It paints the picture of running to a safe hiding place where the enemy cannot reach you.
3. “Deceitful” — ʿāqōb (עָקֹב) — Jeremiah 17:9
Means crooked, polluted, slippery. Describes the heart’s natural bent away from truth and righteousness, which is why we must invite God to search and cleanse us.
4. “Advocate” — paraklētos (παράκλητος) — John 16:7
Means one called alongside to help, comforter, encourager. Describes the Holy Spirit’s constant presence and active help in the believer’s life.
5. “Guide” — hodēgēsei (ὁδηγήσει) — John 16:13
From hodegos, meaning to lead on a journey, to show the way. Emphasizes that the Spirit doesn’t just give directions — He personally leads us step by step into truth.
Walking in the Spirit
Key Verse: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” — Galatians 5:16 NLT
1. Walking in the Spirit Begins with Surrender
We can’t live the Christian life in our own strength. Walking in the Spirit starts by yielding control to Him every day.
The Spirit indwells us the moment we’re saved — but walking in Him is an ongoing choice. Like Jeremiah, we must keep drawing from the Spirit’s strength.
When we walk in the Spirit, He changes our character to look like Jesus.
Galatians 5:19–21 lists the works of the flesh — immorality, idolatry, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, division, and more.
Walking in the Spirit isn’t passive — it’s a relationship. The Spirit speaks through Scripture, prayer, godly counsel, and inner promptings that align with His Word.
Lesson for Me
When the world around me rejects God, I will not move with the crowd. I will trust the Lord, make Him my hope and confidence, and walk daily in the power of the Holy Spirit — the same Spirit who keeps me rooted, fruitful, and faithful until the end.
Application Questions
Pray 🙏
Lord, search my heart and reveal anything in me that is pulling me away from You. Keep me rooted in Your truth and filled with the Holy Spirit’s power so I can stand firm like Jeremiah — faithful in love, strong in conviction, and joyful in obedience. May my life glorify You in every season. Amen.
“Lord, you are my strength and fortress, my refuge in the day of trouble! Nations from around the world will come to you and say, ‘Our ancestors left us a foolish heritage, for they worshiped worthless idols.’” — Jeremiah 16:19 NLT
“For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: In your own lifetime, before your very eyes, I will put an end to the happy singing and laughter in this land. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard.” — Jeremiah 16:9 NLT
“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… Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” — Jeremiah 17:7–8 NLT
“O Lord, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My 🙌 are for you alone!” — Jeremiah 17:14 NLT
“Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of 🙌! He is to be feared above all gods.” — Psalm 96:2, 4 NLT
“But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth… He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.” — John 16:7–8, 13–14 NLT
Reflection
If I heard God say, “I will put an end to all joy in the land” (Jer. 16:9), I would be terrified and heartbroken. It’s like when you were a kid and your parent gave you that look — the one that silently said, “You’d better stop now.” Only this is far more serious. This is our Heavenly Father warning His people that their sin has reached a breaking point.
The people of Judah would not stop worshiping worthless idols. They refused to listen, obey, or honor His commands. But not Jeremiah. In the middle of a rebellious culture, he remained faithful, bold, and unshaken. He is a godly example to us today — living for God even when surrounded by people who want to push Him out of their hearts and minds.
Jeremiah’s secret? He trusted in the Lord. His hope and confidence were not in himself or his abilities — because the human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). Instead, he leaned entirely on the Lord, asking Him to search his heart, guide his steps, and keep him rooted like a tree planted by the riverbank, drawing from the living water of God’s presence.
In John 16, Jesus gives us the same call — but also the power to walk it out. He promised the Holy Spirit would come after His departure. The Spirit is our Advocate, our Guide into all truth, our source of conviction and courage, the One who glorifies Jesus through us.
Digging Deeper
1. “Trust” — bāṭaḥ (בָּטַח) — Jeremiah 17:7
Means to feel secure, be confident, rely upon. It’s not a casual hope but a settled confidence rooted in God’s proven character — no matter the storms around us.
2. “Refuge” — maḥseh (מַחְסֶה) — Jeremiah 16:19
Means shelter, protection from danger or storm. It paints the picture of running to a safe hiding place where the enemy cannot reach you.
3. “Deceitful” — ʿāqōb (עָקֹב) — Jeremiah 17:9
Means crooked, polluted, slippery. Describes the heart’s natural bent away from truth and righteousness, which is why we must invite God to search and cleanse us.
4. “Advocate” — paraklētos (παράκλητος) — John 16:7
Means one called alongside to help, comforter, encourager. Describes the Holy Spirit’s constant presence and active help in the believer’s life.
5. “Guide” — hodēgēsei (ὁδηγήσει) — John 16:13
From hodegos, meaning to lead on a journey, to show the way. Emphasizes that the Spirit doesn’t just give directions — He personally leads us step by step into truth.
Walking in the Spirit
Key Verse: “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” — Galatians 5:16 NLT
1. Walking in the Spirit Begins with Surrender
We can’t live the Christian life in our own strength. Walking in the Spirit starts by yielding control to Him every day.
- Romans 8:5 — “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.”
The Spirit indwells us the moment we’re saved — but walking in Him is an ongoing choice. Like Jeremiah, we must keep drawing from the Spirit’s strength.
- John 15:4 — “Remain in me, and I will remain in you… apart from me you can do nothing.”
When we walk in the Spirit, He changes our character to look like Jesus.
- Galatians 5:22–23 — Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control replace the works of the flesh.
Galatians 5:19–21 lists the works of the flesh — immorality, idolatry, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, division, and more.
- Romans 8:13 — “If you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.”
Walking in the Spirit isn’t passive — it’s a relationship. The Spirit speaks through Scripture, prayer, godly counsel, and inner promptings that align with His Word.
- Isaiah 30:21 — “Your own ears will hear him… ‘This is the way you should go.’”
- Galatians 5:25 — “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”
Lesson for Me
When the world around me rejects God, I will not move with the crowd. I will trust the Lord, make Him my hope and confidence, and walk daily in the power of the Holy Spirit — the same Spirit who keeps me rooted, fruitful, and faithful until the end.
Application Questions
- What “worthless idols” might I be tempted to trust in instead of God?
- How am I making room for the Holy Spirit to guide and convict me daily?
- In what specific ways can I glorify Jesus this week through my actions and words?
Pray 🙏
Lord, search my heart and reveal anything in me that is pulling me away from You. Keep me rooted in Your truth and filled with the Holy Spirit’s power so I can stand firm like Jeremiah — faithful in love, strong in conviction, and joyful in obedience. May my life glorify You in every season. Amen.