Reflection: Injury: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions

        1. When have you felt ambushed by life? What was the key factor?

        2. Did you feel the Lord had abandoned you as well? Why?

        3. Does that sense of being lost still cling in your memory? Is there a word picture (like the "hunted bird") that captures the essence of your loss?"

Share: How do you remind yourself now of God's presence when the sense of being helpless attacks?

Injury: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Lamentations 3:52-52: "... They have silenced me in the pit And have placed a stone on me...I said, 'I am cut off!'"

Injury

Although this is a very different situation the concept of being cut-off has also been experienced in many other ways, such as recent as the isolation of the pandemic. In the entire world all together.

In other situations we sometimes close ourselves off by shutting communication from others, and towards others, and darkness grow within us. Cut-off.

Yet we are never cut-off from You Lord, even when we think we are. Unless we ourselves put up barriers and refuse to accept Your words.

Thank you Lord that You never ever leave us. Thank you for Your ongoing presence and protection. Please continue to guide us into following Your voice. And show us how and when to reach out to others, and accept Your words from You.

Your thoughts,

Tears: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

                Tears

                Tears flow now for others

                daughters of her city
                left unprotected, barren
                of future hope
                prey stalking streets
                luring them by false
                promises to seduce
                for material gain
                innocent wander into
                traps, bewildered. Love
                turns hard, becomes survival. 

Psalm 37:26: "They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing."

Reflection: Insight: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reflection Questions:

        1. Have you wept to God about your lost innocence and ways you have been harmed by others?

        2. Do you see the Lord as a refuge to whom you can bring all your tears?

        3. In what circumstances have you ever tried to hold them back from sharing with Him? Why?

Share: How has He given you strength to move forward even when the tears continue?

Insight: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

 Reading: Lamentations 3:49-51: "My eyes pour down unceasingly, Without stopping, Until the Lord looks down And sees from Heaven...".

Insight

Lord, please show us when to pray and then let go. And show us when to pray without ceasing. And both times--TRUST!

Although You are present with each of us in all circumstances we too often forget to walk or think or act that You are.

We forget that growing up in You is always ongoing regardless of our age. Please keep us in Your presence and continue to nudge us when we forget.

That Thy will be done in and through us as You lead--as Your trusting children.

Your thoughts,

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;"

Reflection: Hidden: Lamentations: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions:

        1. What keeps us from deep examination before God? Are there parts of your life that feel hidden from Him and in need of forgiveness or redemption? 

        2. How do we know when we are inwardly honest and not resting on superficial words?

        3. Where are you struggling to be obedient to His truth this week?

Share: Are you willing to accept His deliverance?