Jeremiah starts his letter to the exiles in Babylon with these words: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: … settle down.” (Jeremiah 29:4-5)
In the same chapter we read: “I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (v. 11-13)
“Settle down” was an integral part of God’s plan to minister to his wayward people and recalibrate their relationship with him, a relationship based not on law but on promise.
Act of Confession
(based on the Psalms)
Search us, O God, and know our hearts.
Test us and know our anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in us that offends You,
and guide us on the road to life. (Ps 139:23-24)
[ Time of silence, or appropriate song ]
O Lord, You have examined our hearts
and know everything about us.
You know when we sit down or stand up.
You know our thoughts from afar.
You see when we walk or lie down,
You know every detail of our conduct.
You even know what we are going to say before we say it.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for us,
too great for us to understand. (Ps. 139:1-3, 6)
Cleanse us from hidden faults.
Keep us from deliberate sins.
Don’t let them control us.
Then we will be free of guilt,
and innocent of serious wrong-doing. (Ps 19:12-14)
Listen to the promise of God:
Those who love Me, I will deliver.
I will protect those who know My name.
When they call to Me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them,
and show them my saving power. (Ps 91:14-15)
Lord, we trust in Your unfailing love!
We rejoice, because You have rescued us!
Sing praise to God,
because He has been so good to us! (Ps 13:5-6)
[ Song of thanksgiving and praise ]
~ from re:worship
From the blog
A new nature
Yield as sacrifice
Change from the inside out
