PRAY FOR RENEWAL

Lamentations 5:1-22

Saturday, 07 March 2026

Turn us back to You, O LORD, and we will be restored;

Renew our days as of old…” -Lamentations 5:21

Prophet Jeremiah is in deep anguish over the destruction of his city by the enemy but he pins his hope on GOD Almighty to restore them-to renew their days as of old. What was the reason for such a pitiable state for the prophet to say: “behold our reproach…”(V.1)? They had broken covenant with God, disobeyed Him and even after repeated warnings from several of God’s prophets, they hadn’t heeded. 

God’s Word repeatedly instructs the sinful and strayed ones to return to God, to be restored and to be renewed! Such people go through a period of dryness, a desolate state, a kind of barrenness, when they move away from God In Zechariah 1:3 God says “Return to Me, that I may return to you.” God is willing to restore, if we return to Him. In Acts 3:19 –“Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” 

Restoration involves realization, repentance and returning. Jeremiah lists their present affliction suffered at the hands of the enemy, the disgrace they were going through. That realization led to repentance and seeking God for a restoration. Sometimes people get so caught up in the daily chores of life and their involvement in the activities in the world that they move away from God. To please our “religious self” we may continue to do certain spiritual functions, vainly thinking that we are still pleasing God!! 1Cor.10:5 warns us that God was not pleased with those people who were craving for those things that were not intended for their lives by God!  

Yet in His great mercy, God reminds His people that He did not forsake them and He was still interested in building them up and their nation – as a fulfillment of the promise given to their forefathers. However, in order to accomplish that promise God needs a people who would be faithful to Him. And God promises them that if they return to Him, He will also return to them. 

Roman 8:31 says “…If God is for us, who is against us?”  There are many who received promises from God and yet haven’t seen its accomplishment. There are yet many who know that God has called them into His service and know that He wants them to be His instruments. Yet they are struggling in their mundane lives wondering what their God-given purpose is! In Zech.1:17, the Lord says that He has a plan to prosper “His” cities. This was a promise of God to His people. Numerous promises of God are unfulfilled in the lives of many, because they turned away from!! Here then is the call to return to God!

The people of God who once enjoyed the fellowship of God— when they go away from God, He calls them back into a meaningful, prosperous and fruitful relationship! In John 15:3 Jesus warns us that if we do not abide in Him like a branch of vine in its trunk, we become fruitless!

God’s message to them that have strayed from Him is to acknowledge His ways and get back to His way. Let us take the decision to return, as the Lord speaks to us. He is calling us also to return to Him, so that we will become fruitful! Let us ask Him to restore and renew us.

Come to Him so that He can revive His promises over your life!!

Prayer: “Revive me, O LORD, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” (Psalm 143:1)