Things to Remember When You are Experiencing the Chastisement of God (Part 2)

Praying Through the Bible #89 

TEXT: Lamentations 3 

Last week, we began looking at the subject of prayer in the book of Lamentations. Lamentations is a book of mourning written by the prophet Jeremiah after the nation of Judah had been conquered and carried into captivity by Babylon. In Lamentations chapter 3, we find 12 things to remember when God is chastising us as He chastised the children of Israel. 

We looked at the first three things in our first message in this series. They are as follows: 

1. Pray with the understanding that God is still in control
2. Remember that, in God, you have strength and hope 
3. Realize that if you are still alive, God is showing you mercy. (The famous workout guru Billy Blanks says any day above ground is a blessed day, so smile.)

Today, we are going to look at the next three things to remember when God is chastising you. 

1. We should determine to remember the experience of chastisement. Verse 19 says, "Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall." One of the key things that God told the children of Israel to do throughout their history is to be sure to remember Him and His commandments. 

2. We should get humble and stay humble. Jeremiah shows us that the experience of chastisement should lead us to humble ourselves before God. Verse 20 says, "My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me." 

3. We should never stop trusting God throughout the period of chastisement. Verse 23 says, "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him." In the midst of their desperate circumstances, Jeremiah writes that the children of Israel are to continue to put their faith, trust, and hope in God.