From: October 31, 2024
“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.
From: October 31, 2023
“God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation” (Hebrews 2:10 NLT).
God is both the cause and the object of all things. For all things were made by Him and for Him. This is the truth that moved Augustine of Hippo to write, “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee.”
It is our sin that has separated us from God, making our hearts restless. But God so loved us, that He sent Jesus to make a perfect sacrifice for our salvation. Redeeming those who believe in Him by His blood, so that we are now called children of God. So we hear Christ’s invitation anew, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
PRAYER: Dear Father, we give You thanks for sending Jesus to suffer and die in our place, so that we might be made right with You and be adopted as Your children. We are overcome by the love You have for us. Fill us afresh with Your Holy Spirit that we might love one another as You have loved us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 31, 2022
HOW JESUS HAS CHANGED OUR STATUS
Receiving Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins we are made children of God. This spiritual transaction changes our status in at least three ways:
1) FROM SINFUL TO RIGHTEOUS – Christ took our sin upon Himself and the Father counted His righteousness as ours for our justification. He makes us holy.
2) FROM DEATH TO LIFE – Christ took our death, so we might have eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
3) FROM ENEMIES TO CHILDREN – Christ took our separation from the Father, so that we might be adopted as children of God. This is why He cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:46). Now, He is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters.
Christ died to accomplish this three-part change in status for us. And then He arose, so that He might lead us into this salvation Himself. Receiving this salvation, our status is changed forever. We are God’s children through Jesus Christ.
PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that through faith in Christ Jesus we have become Your children. We are in awe of Your grace and mercy towards us. Strengthen us to live as Your children today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
From: October 31, 2017
David attempted to describe the size of God’s mercy by comparing it to the heavens and earth. He imagined the height of God’s mercy as rising as high as the heavens, and the breadth of His mercy being as wide as the “east is from the west.” Yet, in Jesus Christ, such comparisons are no longer needed. For in Him we have God’s mercy on display. What is the height of God’s loving mercy? Isn’t it the height of the cross on Calvary’s hill where Jesus was hung between heaven and earth? What is the breadth of God’s forgiving mercy? Isn’t it seen in Christ’s outstretched arms on the cross with His hands nailed to its cruel beam. The height and breadth of God’s mercy is most clearly revealed in the cross of Christ. Look at the cross. That’s how much God loves us. That’s how far He has gone to forgive us.
From: October 31, 2016
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 mourning comes your way? Jeremiah knew how to give it to the Lord and ask for renewal and restoration. Cry out to the One who can turn your mourning into dancing again!
From: October 31, 2015
Praying to Jesus, we do not pray to one who is distant and unaware of our feelings and temptations. He has suffered and been tempted, yet without sin. He is well acquainted with our griefs. Do not try and overcome temptation alone. Cry out to the One who knows and cares. He is the Overcomer and in Him, so are we.