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Daily Devotional - September 20, 2025

9/20/25

Good morning, Friends,

Lamentations 3:40-42 LSB
[40] ¶Let us search out and examine our ways, And let us return to Yahweh. [41] We lift up our heart to our hands Toward God in heaven; [42] We have transgressed and rebelled; You have not pardoned.

The book of Lamentations was written in a season of pain. God’s people had lost their city, their homes, and their sense of safety. The prophet Jeremiah looked around at the ruins of Jerusalem and realized: this didn’t happen by accident. The people had turned away from God, ignored His commands, and now they were living with the fallout.

In verses 40–42, Jeremiah calls the people to look in the mirror. He says, “Let’s check ourselves. Let’s be real about where we’ve gone wrong.” Notice he doesn’t just blame the enemy or the system. He says, “We have sinned.”

That’s hard truth. But it’s also hopeful truth. Because when you know what’s broken, you can start fixing it.

“Search out and examine our ways” → That means doing an inventory. How am I living? How am I treating people? Where am I out of step with God?

“Return to Yahweh” → God hasn’t moved; He’s still calling. Even after rebellion, His arms stay open. The call is not just to feel bad, but to come back home.

“Lift up our hearts to our hands” → It’s not enough to go through religious motions. God wants the heart. He wants surrender.

We are surrounded by broken systems, violence, injustice, and daily struggle, so yea, t’s easy to point the finger outward. And yes, there are real enemies, real oppression, and real unfairness. But Jeremiah challenges us: start with your own heart. Because change in the world starts with change in the soul.

The encouraging part? God doesn’t expose our sin to shame us, but to save us. Conviction is the doorway to restoration.

Take ten minutes to honestly examine your ways. Write down one area where you’ve been ignoring God or making excuses. Confess it. Then, pray and “return to the Lord” by asking Him to help you change that area.

You 🫵🏾 know what you gotta do! Let's get to it 🙏🏾

Maranatha (The Lord is coming)  
Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)

- Grace & Peace
Pastor Trent

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