Prayer

“Remember, O LORD, what has happened to us; look, and see our disgrace. Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, our homes for foreigners. We have become orphans and fatherless, our mothers like widows. We must buy the water we drink; our wood can be had only at a price. Those who pursue us are at our heels; we are weary and find no rest. We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread, our fathers sinned and are no more, and we bear their punishment. Slaves rule over us, and there is none to free us from their hands. We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the desert. Our skin is hot as an oven, feverish from hunger. Women have been ravished in Zion, and virgins in the towns of Judah. Princes have been hung up by their hands; elders are shown no respect. Young men toil at the millstones; boys stagger under loads of wood. The elders are gone from the city gat; the young men have stopped their music. Joy is gone from our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning. The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this our hearts are faint, because of these things our eyes grow dim for Mount Zion, which lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it. You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. Why do you always forget us? Why do you forsake us so long? Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.”

~Lamentations 5:1-22

What do you think prayer is? A list of “thees” and “thous”? Perfectly polished speeches? When Jeremiah poured out his heart to God about his people he didn’t try to impress God with fancy words. Yet his pleas were heartfelt—he rattled off a list of every care and concern on his mind, And he never resorted to whining or disrespect. Believe it or not, God finds that kind of prayer refreshing. He wants you to come to him as you are—not as you think you should be. He wants real communication from the real you. Really.

Love Notes

Don’t set your expectations too low for me. Don’t just give me easy, surface-level questions. Bring me your biggest problems, your toughest challenges, your deepest questions. I’ll answer you—and I’ll blow your mind in the process. –Your all-powerful Father

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

~Jeremiah 33:3

Cassandra Falun

P.S.

This is what the LORD says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without men or animals.” Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither men nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD, saying, “Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD.

~Jeremiah 33:10-11

There’s never a reason to give up hope. What areas in your life do you feel are dead and useless? Add a little faith. God can bring new life.