Panic: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                  Panic

                Panic rises 

                like a tide sweeping

                over devastation

                enemies take advantage

                pummel threats

                jeer with satisfaction

                tears run again

                as a current

                over destruction

                river swollen

Psalm 37:25: "I have been young, and now I am old, but I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

Reflection: Harsh: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions: 

                1. Has grief ever created a panic within you? Or a sense of utter devastation? What was the trigger?

                2. What role does such harsh truth play in shaping our identity as God's people?

               3. What brings you calm to survive even the most unbearable circumstances?

Share: Is there someone in your life right now that needs that hope? Pray for a word that you could share if possible.

Harsh: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry 3:46-48: ".... Panic and pitfall have befallen us, Devastation and destruction; My eyes run down with streams of water Because of the destruction of the daughter of my people.

Harsh

Lord, You have gifted us with free will and too often--or maybe always-- we take it for granted and take it too far away from You. We forget to live into gratitude and obedience to Your intent. And Your service as You lead.

Then we blame You for our own harsh failures and barriers than come. And allow panic to become our reaction.

Forgive us, we pray, for not listening, not following Your words and Your plans. For not trusting You in every moment.

Only in obedience to Your will can we truly begin to walk and serve with an honest heart. So despite our failures when our minds cannot make the connections, please may Your words direct us from our hearts as You lead.

Your thoughts,

Unheard: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                Unheard

                Her city now debris

                rubbish flaps in the wind

                ash coats as a gray cloud

                stray animals follow

                odors thinking possible

                meal, jerk away from

                strench.

                Cower once more.

                Can prayer pierce

                through garbage. Fall

                back broken, unheard.

                Filth sticks, barricades

                answers.

Psalm 37:24: "Though we stumble we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand."

Reflection: Heard: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions:

        1. How does this depiction of God challenge you or frighten you?

        2. Do you think that sometimes God refuses to listen? Why? Especially when He has promised His forgiveness.

        3. Is it possible that our prayers do not go through because of His mercy to us?

Share: What prayer requests has He denied to you in the past for which you are grateful?

Heard: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 3:43-45: "...Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud. So that no prayer can pass through..".

Heard

All through Scripture we are invited to listen to God's words, to act upon them and to share whenever possible or sent. Prayer is His eternal gift and guidance. So this closed door is confusing and unsetting. Why?

To keep us from praying down a wrong path until we realize it? To hold our anger or grief from retaliation? To give us time to see more clearly, see a true perspective, to be willing to follow His path even if danger and sorrow are ahead?

Lord, do You block some prayers for our protection? Especially when we have inhaled twisted information, or unseen dangers, or have been fed lies?

Yet we can not stop praying or we will drift away. Please continue to show us how to pray, how to wait, how to discern barriers and boundaries. But to keep trusting in Your answers--in Your time-- in faith.

Your thoughts,

Return: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                 Return

                Turns within to

                examine heart, mind

                soul ready to return

                not in outward penitence

                but from real desire to

                truth's obedience

                not a lifted show of hands

                instead honest supplication

                now prepares for

                real deliverance.

Psalm 37:23: "Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when He delights on our way;"