REPENT

The call to repentance:

Come, hope-filled prisoners.
See your God, coming in mercy,
Rebuilding from the ruins
Bringing comfort.

As we gather to pray today
May we recognise you as our God
Live as people of repentance
Turning anew towards you
And discovering that you are already coming
To meet us on the way.

The need for repentance:

We begin this series with a focus on the call to repent. The word ‘repent’ contains the idea of turning from something and taking a different direction. The people of Israel were in captivity, bound to their disillusionment, failing to listen to God. They had given up hope. Then we read in 1:6 ‘Then they repented’.

We start by acknowledging the call of God in our lives to turn and face the right direction, to hope for the future once again. Repentance also includes lament and grief. The past years have stolen much from us, but God offers us hope amid it all. 1:16-17 assures the people that the Lord will return to Jerusalem with mercy and that prosperity will come.

A prayer of repentance:

• Focus on what repentance looks like for you and around the world.
• Spend time lamenting what has been lost or that grieves you. Commit these things to God.
• Listen to what God is prompting you about for the future. What are the opportunities to be found in a new direction? Ask God for wisdom and courage to discern the way ahead and step into it.