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Day 266 Lamentations 1:8 Jerusalem has sinned gravely. Therefore, she has become vile. All who honored her despise her because they have seen her nakedness. Yes, she sighs and turns away. 9 Her uncleanness is in her skirts. She did not consider her destiny. Therefore, her collapse was awesome. She had no comforter. “O LORD, behold my affliction. For the enemy is exalted!” 10 The adversary has spread his hand over all her pleasant things for she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary; those, whom You commanded not to enter Your assembly. 11 All her people sigh. They seek bread. They have given their valuables for food to restore life. “See, O LORD, and consider, for I am scorned.” What do you do when someone comes in and destroys everything you know? Do you become angry and plot vengeance? Or do you pray? Nebuchadnezzar came against Judah and Jerusalem as Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied, they would. King Nebuchadnezzar’s captain, Nebuzaradan, took them into exile to Babylon. Jeremiah weeps for Jerusalem and the situation facing him in Jerusalem. He prayed for God to see his affliction. As Christians, you believe trouble won’t come your way because of your faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, trouble lays in wait for you. It watches for you to let down your guard, become complacent and do religion your way and not the way God intended. Then Satan sweeps in like a flood to destroy everything you hold dear. God chose Israel out of all the nations on earth. He put His name on them, gave them His law, and told them He would be with them if they obeyed Him. He also told them He would send them into exile if they disobeyed Him and lived how they desired. God kept His promise and sent them into exile for their disobedience. When you see trouble coming your way and it seems never-ending, examine your life. Have you turned away from God? Do you do whatever seems best to you without regard for the consequences? Israel did. They didn’t care about the consequences. They sought pleasure and whatever they desired, they did. God wants you to return to Him. He wants you to seek His face when trouble comes your way. The only way you can do that is to pray and renounce your selfishness and disregard for your life. Turn back to God and He will bring you back into His presence. Let’s pray: Father, everyday temptation comes my way to lure me to do whatever I desire without regard to the consequences of my actions. Help me see the temptation for what it is, sin. Sin against You. Forgive me and help me live in You and not in the temptations this world offers. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 7 March 2022 by Valerie Routhieaux