Got it — here’s the revised guide with the first question softened into a conversational opener before moving into the deeper ones.

Devotional Thought

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ‘Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

-Jeremiah 29:4-7

When the people of God were dragged into exile, their first instinct—reinforced by false prophets—was to separate from their new city, pray against it, and wait for its downfall. But God’s message through Jeremiah was shockingly different: move in, settle down, build, plant, marry, raise families, seek the peace of the city, and pray for it.

God’s mission has always been about redemption—bringing His love and life to the places and people who seem farthest from Him. That means exile isn’t just something to endure; it’s an assignment to embrace. Instead of separation or assimilation, God calls His people to permeation—living distinct lives while investing deeply in the community around them.

Our workplaces, neighborhoods, and even difficult cultural environments are not accidents. God has placed us where we are so that His grace, truth, and hope might overflow into the lives of others. The prosperity of our city—spiritually, socially, and economically—should matter to us because it matters to God.

Reflection Questions

1. Share one thing you love about the place you live—maybe a favorite spot, a memory, or a person who makes it feel like home.

2. Think about where God has placed you right now—workplace, neighborhood, school. How might this be a kind of “exile assignment” rather than just a location?

3. The exiles in Babylon were tempted to isolate from their city. What are some modern ways Christians are tempted to “separate” today?

4. How can assimilation—blending in until there’s no visible difference—dull our witness?

5. Seeking the peace and prosperity of the city means caring for more than just spiritual needs. Where do you see opportunities for God’s people to bring economic, social, or relational healing in your community?

6. Daniel modeled faithfulness to God while serving in Babylon’s government. How does his example challenge our assumptions about working in secular or difficult environments?

7. In what ways could your presence at work or in your neighborhood tangibly make life better for the people around you?

Action Step

This week, choose one tangible way to seek the peace and prosperity of your community. It could be inviting a neighbor over for a meal, volunteering for a local cause, praying daily for specific city leaders, or encouraging someone in your workplace. Do it intentionally as an act of love for both God and the place He’s planted you.