Welcome to Day 16 of 21 Days of Prayer!
Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Jeremiah, what do you see?’ And I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree.’ Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching to perform My word (Jeremiah 1:11-12).”
There are a few things going on in Jeremiah Chapter 1 verses 11 and 12.
#1 Jeremiah had the ability to see.
Jeremiah’s relationship with God was so in harmony that he was able to see beneath the surface of the truth. He possessed the power of discernment and discrimination between right and wrong.
When God asked Jeremiah, “What do you see?”, Jeremiah did not say “I see a branch” or “I see a stick” or “I see an apple tree” but he distinguished what he saw. He said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
The almond tree is the first tree to bloom and the last tree to bear fruit in Israel. The almond tree is a symbol of hope. The Hebrew word for almond is shaked. It is also translated “to watch” or “to awaken”.
One of the best prayers we can pray is “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law (truth).” We must be able to see it before we can speak it. The Spirit of God enlightens those who truly seek him so that they can see what others do not see. It’s not apparent with the naked eye, but with one’s spiritual eyes.
#2 God said, “Thou hast well seen”
When we see what God sets before us in his Word, we have well seen. Before we can make an impression upon someone else’s heart, we must first make an impression on our own hearts.
We can only give to others to the depth we have it within ourselves.
We must “see the truth” before we can speak the truth to others.
Jeremiah passed the prophetic test that God placed before him. He saw a branch of an almond tree, a symbol of hope to endure the harshest environments.
#3 God is watching.
Then said the Lord unto me (Jeremiah), “Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12).” Again, the branch of the almond tree represents hope. The almond tree awakens during the winter while other trees are asleep.
God wants us to know that he is not asleep. God is with us during the hard seasons of life. God is watching over his word to perform it. God’s Word withstands the harshest temperatures, the coldest winds, and the most frigid winters.
Once God makes a promise, no passage of time can change what he has spoken. God is awake during the winter just as the branch of an almond tree is first to bloom.
God assured Jeremiah that he is watching to see that His word is performed. God will carry out all of His plans.
God has not forgotten about you.
God always keep his promises.
God has never dishonored His promises.
Just as the almond tree is quick to bloom, our wakeful God hastens to fulfill His Word.
A PRAYER OF AWAKENING
Dear Heavenly Father,
Open my spiritual eyes, that I may see wonderful things from Your law (truth). Holy Spirit, help me to see what God wants me to see so that I can fulfill His purpose for my life, in the name of Jesus, amen.
~inspiring hope and seasoning faith, Dr. Regina M. Daigre