“You have planted them; indeed, they have taken root; they grow; indeed, they bring forth fruit. You are near in their mouth, but far from their mind.” Jeremiah 12:2
The prophet speaks of the wicked prospering in the land before God’s judgment fell upon them. God gave them life and blessings. Yet, though they confessed God’s name with their mouths, their minds — their inward and true desires and passions — were far from the LORD. And how true this is today! People speak God’s name and call themselves Christians, but their hearts are far from the LORD and His Word.
Forgive me, O Lord, for taking Your name on my lips when my heart is far from You. Grant me true repentance and faith in Your mercy for the sake of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them. For I will not hear them in the time that they cry to Me because of their trouble.” Jeremiah 11:14
Is there a time when we are to quit praying for people? Though we pray that all repent of their sins and look to Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness, there is a time when we cease praying that the impenitent and unbelieving would be spared from God’s judgments upon their sins. If they refuse to hear the warnings of God’s Word and repent, we must finally turn them over to God’s righteous judgment and trust that God will deal with them according to His wisdom.
Grant that we not reject Your Word, O LORD, but repent of our wicked and sinful ways and look to You for mercy in Christ Jesus. In His name, we pray. Amen.
“Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.” Psalm 86:11
Prior to the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, each of our hearts was united in the service of sin — we sought to go in our own selfish and sinful ways. Having been brought to faith in Christ, we now have a new nature that loves God and desires to walk in accord with the truth of His Word. However, in this life, we still have our old and corrupt sinful natures. With the psalmist, we pray that God would unite our divided hearts to honor the name of our God and Savior in all we think, say, and do.
Unite my heart, O God, to love You, trust in You, and honor You in all I think and do. I ask this for the sake of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may keep all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29
There are many things the LORD God has not revealed to us that are far beyond our understanding. Instead of trying to grasp the hidden things of God, we should focus our attention on what He has revealed in His Word that we might repent of our sins, trust in Christ Jesus, and follow Him.
Almighty and all-wise God, grant that I read and study Your Word and hold fast to all You reveal to us in the Scriptures so that I may repent of my evil ways and look to the Son and His cross for pardon and forgiveness. Amen.
“Make joyful the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift my soul. For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in mercy to all who call on You.” Psalm 86:4-5
When we lift our souls to the Lord, we can rejoice because He is “good and forgiving, abounding in mercy to all who call on” Him. When we humble ourselves, acknowledge our sins and failures, and look to the Lord God in faith for mercy, we can come away with joy, for God our Maker stands ready to forgive our sins and show mercy to us for the sake of Jesus Christ and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for the sins of all.
Unto You, O Lord, I lift my soul for mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus, for the sake of His blood shed on the cross for the sins of the world. Amen.
