Jeremiah 10:2

This is what the LORD says: “Do not act like the other nations, who try to read their future in the stars. Do not be afraid of their predictions, even though other nations are terrified by them.”

If you’ve ever looked at a horoscope, you’ll probably have concluded that it is all a lot of nonsense. They may have told you that today is a good day to make friends, or to avoid puddles or to plan your holidays. However, horoscopes are nothing new. For more than 4,000 years, people have taken astrology very seriously and have developed sophisticated ways of reading the stars in order to guide their lives. In the time of Jeremiah, the Babylonians were particularly committed to this way of predicting the future, but the prophet was clear that this was no way to seek guidance. His confidence was in his God, and he refused to be swayed by astrology, however much others were influenced by it.

We are all immensely interested in the future. Inevitably, we wonder what is going to happen, but just imagine if you knew when and where you were going on holiday for the rest of your life, when you were going to fall ill or when you were going to die. I think most of us would rather not know the details. However, what we do need to know is that our future is secure in God’s hands, and that is precisely the security the psalmist celebrated when he wrote: “I am trusting you, O Lord, saying: ‘You are my God!’ My future is in your hands” (Psalm 31:14-15).

As we live for God today, we need to praise him for his continual presence with us, and for the sure knowledge we have that he will never leave our side, whatever the future holds.

Question

What are your thoughts about your future?

Prayer

Loving Father, I am content to know that my future is in your hands. Thank you that you will never leave my side. Amen