10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:10-14

Many people use verse 11 as their “life” verse but often neglect the verses that follow. When God prospers us, it’s our responsibility to follow through and seek God. We have to assume that God’s plans for us are great and significantly better than we could ever come up with.

The question I have, though, is when we know we “have God’s ear” in our prayers, what do we pray for? Do you pray for wisdom and guidance? Do you pray for God’s blessing on those in your life? It’s actually a question that is answered differently for each person asking it.

As you look to 2017, what kinds of prayers are you praying?