Jeremiah's Prayer

I'm in a bit of a funk. Have been for a couple of days. I've been reading my daily readings. In the Daily Bible, I'm into a few days of Proverbs. The publisher has them bunched by topic so it is interesting and boring at the same time. The same proverb is repeated over and over. I guess we need to hear it repeatedly to get the message. I haven't gotten the message yet.

Because my readings the last two days didn't spark anything, I decided to look back on past notes. This is what I found. Jeremiah 10:23-24 is entitled "Jeremiah’s Prayer" in the New Living Translation. The prayer includes a few more verses but these verses are my prayer:
²³ I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own.
We are not able to plan our own course.
²⁴ So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle.
Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.

Jeremiah's prayer acknowledges that we can plan our lives but when we do we invariably do something that should be corrected or for which we should pay a price (and sometimes a heavy price), because we somehow sin against God. When we plan, we often times leave out the only ONE who knows what comes next, regardless of our plans. Because of our rashness, Jeremiah asks for leniency, for mercy. He does not ask that we not be corrected, but that God be gentle and merciful in the discipline we must face.

This is bold of Jeremiah. He lived before the grace of Jesus was known. Most of the rebukes from God in the Old Testament were harsh. Although in contrast to the sins of disobedience and other worship of other gods and other sins against God, I suppose the discipline was merciful. But Thank God for Jesus.

Dear Father, Creator, Life-sustainer. Thank You so much for Your mercy and grace. We are so undeserving and You are so good. Forgive us when we try to plan as though we can do it alone. Help us to completely come to depend on You. "So correct me, Lord, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die." In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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