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| Previous Next Scripture tells of many prayers--urgent requests to God for help. In All Things Are Possible, author Daniel Partner tells of devotional meaning in seventy-five of these prayers. Partner's insightful, accessible readings show that no human problem is unique and that God hears believers' prayers. Not only can the answers be miraculous--prayer itself is a miracle. While reading All Things Are Possible, Christians will see their own struggles in the prayers of biblical characters, be encouraged to lift their voices to heaven like the saints of old, and embrace Jesus' promise: "All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23 NASB). This devotional employs various translations of Scripture. Soft cover from Barbour Publishing, Inc., copyright 2002 |
"DAY FORTY-SEVEN"
We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness,
and the iniquity of our fathers:
for we have sinned against thee.
Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake,
do not disgrace the throne of thy glory:
remember, break not thy covenant with us.
Are there any among the vanities of
the Gentiles that can cause rain?
or can the heavens give showers?
art not thou he, O Lord our God?
therefore we will wait upon thee:
for thou hast made all these things.
- JEREMIAH 14:20-22
Remember the story of the paralyzed man who was lowered through a roof to be healed by Jesus? The story is told in Luke 5:18-26. At first Jesus didn't heal that man physically. This didn't seem to occur to him. Instead the Savior said, "Man, thy sins are forgiven thee" (v. 20). He first remedied the cause of the man's sickness, and only later did he remove the paralysis itself.The prayer of Jeremiah 14:19-22 emerges from the prophet's desire for the spiritual healing of his nation. "Hast thou utterly rejected Judah?" he asked God. "Hath thy soul loathed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!" (Jeremiah 14:19). The prophet eloquently confessed the sins of the people because he knew that their sin had brought trouble to them. Sin does this-it causes suffering and pain. Jeremiah's confession is a pattern for our own. He expresses utter helplessness; he makes no vow or promise but throws himself in utter dependence on God. The prayer is strengthened only by the value of God's name and throne and covenant. Perhaps because he felt the burning of the people's sin, Jeremiah evokes images of refreshing rain, which would extinguish that fire. None of the vanities of the Gentiles-the world's comforts-can supply such relief. Did you ever wonder, "What's wrong with me?" The true answer-sin-is the same for everyone. Only you and God know the details. Jeremiah knew the details of sin and, seeking forgiveness, threw himself upon all that God is. This is the way of confession and forgiveness. William Sleeper (1819-1904) wrote a beautiful hymn about this. Here are two of its verses: Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.Click here to send this devotion to a friend!
