“The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning… Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old” (Lamentations 5:15, 21 ESV).
Jeremiah lamented over the fall of Jerusalem and the dire condition of his people. He described their hunger and homelessness, but most of all their spiritual brokenness. He lifted his lament up to the Lord that He might show them mercy and “restore” them.
Where do you put your grief and pain when a time of sorrow comes your way? We cannot stir ourselves up to revival. Only God can bring revival. But Jeremiah knew how to lament and cry out to the Lord, asking Him for renewal and restoration.
Let us cry out to the One who can turn our mourning into dancing! Let us pray for revival, first in us, and then in our land.
PRAYER: Dear Father, revive us. Bring revival to our churches and to our cities, and to our nation. Move in our hearts. Stir us up to prayer and to good works. Enflame our tongues for sharing the Good News. Restore us to Yourself, O Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.