Restored to God
Today’s Verse:
Lamentations 5:21 ESV
Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old.
The book of Lamentations ends not with resolution, but with a plea. The people of Judah, suffering under the weight of destruction and exile, cry out to God for restoration. Their sorrow is not only for their ruined city but for their broken relationship with the Lord. They recognize that true restoration comes not merely from rebuilding walls but from being brought back into fellowship with God.
This verse resonates deeply with the season of Lent. Like Jerusalem, we have all fallen short, and sin has left its mark on our lives. We, too, need restoration—not just outwardly, but in the depths of our souls. In our confession and repentance, we echo this prayer: “Restore us to yourself, O Lord.”
The good news is that God has answered this cry in Christ. Through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, He has made the way for us to be restored to Him. His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of renewal, bringing us back into right relationship with the Father. Lent invites us to reflect on this, to turn from sin, and to seek the renewal that only He can provide.
Prayers
A Prayer for Today:
Heavenly Father, I come before You with a repentant heart, longing to be restored. Thank You for the mercy You have shown through Christ. Renew my heart and strengthen my faith, that I may walk in Your ways. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
The photo above is licensed through Unsplash+