Lamentations 3 Prayer Points

Sovereign Lord, we humbly accept the bitter cup of discipline from your hand. For nothing happens to us unless you, O Lord, have commanded it; nothing good or bad comes our way that is not from the mouth of the Most High God. And why should anyone complain about the punishment of his sins? For we deserve far worse than all the miseries we have ever undergone in this fallen world. Because of the multitude of our sins, we deserve to be hunted like a bird continually by all of our enemies, to be racked with pain in our bodies every day, to be flung alive into the lion’s den, or to be drowned in the depths of the sea and be lost forever like the wandering stars in heaven. Yet, you, O Lord, have disciplined us in love, correcting us that we might be restored, rebuking us that we might be renewed, and censuring us for the sake of our redemption. So, we call upon your name, O Lord, even from the depths of the pit. And we cry out to you for help even as the waters overwhelm us in shame and guilt, for you are our God and Savior.

Merciful God, we have transgressed and rebelled against your holy laws rightly instigating your displeasure. And we have felt the rod of your anger, for you have blocked all our paths and targeted us with your holy arrows. You have even wrapped yourself with a cloud so that none of our prayers can pass through. We too have felt the weight of your holy grief, for you have
withdrawn your light and your joy from us, leaving us in bitterness, wormwood and gall. We are bereft of peace and have forgotten what happiness is, having lost all sight of hope. Indeed, our chains are heavy, all are paths are crooked, and we are bowed down in grief and shame. But this we call to mind: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness, O Lord. For you are our portion, our hope, and our wisdom. Father, it is good for us to undergo your loving discipline that we might know that we are your children. It is good to wait quietly for your words of comfort and assurance that we might not seek comfort in the things of this world. And it is good to be corrected that we might not foolishly boast in our own strength and wisdom but look solely to Christ and his righteousness. O Lord, as you have caused us to look at our sins, so now help us to look to Christ for our comfort and salvation, for it is in his name that we pray.