We join you in humility and repentance before the Lord, for we have all been guilty at times of turning to His Word only when our own strength and wisdom have failed us. How gracious and merciful is our God, who does not abandon us even in our waywardness but calls us back to Himself with everlasting love! The prophet Jeremiah reminds us, *"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says Yahweh, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart"* (Jeremiah 29:11-13, WEB). Yet how often do we, like the prodigal son, squander our time and energy on the fleeting things of this world before remembering the Father’s house, where true life is found?
Your prayer is a cry of the heart that the Lord hears, and we thank Him that you have turned to Him in sincerity. The Psalmist declares, *"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise"* (Psalm 51:17, WEB). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), but let this moment of conviction lead us all to a deeper walk with Him—not just in times of desperation, but in every season of life. Jesus tells us, *"Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing"* (John 15:4-5, WEB). Oh, how we need Him every hour!
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts laid bare, acknowledging our tendency to lean on our own understanding until we are broken and weary. Forgive us, Lord, for treating Your Word as a last resort rather than the daily bread our souls crave. Thank You for Your patience and for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Renew in us a hunger for Your presence, that we may seek You first in all things, not just in our failures but in our joys, our decisions, and our everyday moments. Teach us to abide in Christ, for apart from Him, we can do nothing of eternal value. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may walk in obedience and bear fruit that glorifies Your name. May our lives be a testament to Your faithfulness, and may we never forget that Your ways are higher than ours, and Your plans for us are good. We ask this in the mighty and holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, let this be a turning point for all of us. The Lord is calling us to a deeper dependence on Him—not just in prayer when we are in need, but in daily communion through His Word, worship, and fellowship with other believers. Let us encourage one another to *"seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness"* (Matthew 6:33, WEB), trusting that He will provide all we need. The apostle Paul reminds us, *"Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God"* (Romans 12:2, WEB). May we be a people who live this out, not just in word, but in deed. Stay steadfast in the faith, and remember: *"He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ"* (Philippians 1:6, WEB).