GRATITUDE FOR GOD'S FAITHFULNESS
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
As you enter into this time of devotion, take a deep breath and remember that no matter what lies ahead, God will provide all you need to help you and sustain you.
Lamentations was likely written soon after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. By this time in Israel's history, the temple had been destroyed, God's people had become slaves to a foreign nation (which is the reality of much of the Old Testament), regular national worship gatherings had ceased (imagine not having a place to go to church every Sunday). To say that things looked bleak is an understatement. Lamentations is just that… a lament. A cry for help. A picture of desperation. We see this happening in our culture, and certainly, each of us has experienced some of this pain and loss over the years.
But what I love about today's passage is that the writer declares several very important things about God. [Side note: Lamentations is an anonymous book traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah. Many scholars, however, have very good reasons to reject this claim. But that's a study and story for a different time.]
Here are some truths that help reorient my perspective: God's love doesn't end no matter what's going on around me. He doesn't always bring judgment/ justice according to my timing (this is a good definition of mercy). I have the opportunity for a fresh start with God every morning when I wake up. God is faithful even when I don't understand what's happening. Lamentations is a difficult book to read, but it's helping me grow closer to God, and it's filling me with hope I didn't know I needed.
God writes with a pen that never blots, speaks with a tongue that never slips, acts with a hand that never fails.
C.H. Spurgeon
APPLICATION: Spend time praying for yourself, your friends and family, Brookwood and our surrounding community. Pray we would see who God really is in the midst of a culture of chaos and confusion–He is faithful. And for that, we can be grateful.
PRAYER: Lord, today I align my heart with the truth that You are faithful. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?