Lamentations 3:40 "Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord."
Dear
God,
Take
me on a journey. Lift me from the immediacy of my moments. I cannot help but
live my life too closely. Help me to pull back. Grant me perspective. Show me
who I am.
Examine
my ways. I have routines and habits in my life to which I have grown so
accustomed that I have no objective evaluation of them. Someone has said that “A
rut is a grave with both ends knocked out.” Examine my ruts that are killing
me. Reveal my habits to me. Grant me grace to repent and trust You for
transformation.
Try
my motivations. Show me selfishness, control, self-seeking, revenge,
spitefulness, pride, lust, bitterness, and hate. Show me that You may lead me to
repentance. Turn me from my inward curvature. Realign my character toward You.
Call
me into You. Take me into the depth of Your love and intimacy, into places I
could not have known had You not allowed the pain of the plow to disturb the
comfort of the field of my soul. Disturbed. Upended.
You
promise: “And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret
riches” (Isaiah 45:3a). Show me the treasures of darkness. As I gaze into the upturned dampness of my own soul, help me to mine some
precious riches of Your grace. Reveal my brokenness. Life has been hard
on me. I am hurting, broken, shattered. Heal me by Your grace. Make beauty.
Examine
me. Test me. Draw me. I return to You. Wholeheartedly.
In
the Name of the God who disciplines and draws me because He loves me.
Amen.
