READ Lamentations 3
God sends a message of hope and restoration to Israel.

INSIGHT
Through the prophets, God has been warning Judah for many years to turn from idolatry to serve Him only. Finally, her sin has compounded to the point that judgment is no longer avoidable if God is to be true to His Word. But although destruction overtakes Judah, there is hope on the horizon. Jeremiah writes: “Through the Lord´s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (vv.22-23).

PRAYER
God blesses His children beyond measure. Count your blessings as you praise Him:
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us
in him, before the foundation of the world, to be
holy and blameless in love before him. He
predestined us to be adopted as sons through
Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good
pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious
grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One
(Ephesians 1:3-6).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful
not to fall. “Everything is permissible,” but not
everything is beneficial. “Everything is
permissible,” but not everything builds up
(1 Corinthians 10:12, 23).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
No temptation has come upon you except
what is common to humanity. But God is
faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation he will also provide the way out  
so that you may be able to bear it
(1 Corinthians 10:13).

The Lord encourages us to come to Him with our concerns and desires. As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• A humble and submissive attitude
• The work of prison ministries
• Whatever else is on your heart

Offer this closing prayer to God:
For it is better to suffer for doing good,
if that should be God’s will, than for doing
evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all,  
the righteous for the unrighteous, that he
might bring you to God. He was put to death
in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit
(1 Peter 3:17-18).