Time To Pray...
This week, I'd like for us to take a look at something that God spoke concerning the way in which His people could find forgiveness and healing. It is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14...
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Let us first notice that there are three distinct steps that we must take, and three specific actions that God will take in response. First, we must humble ourselves. Secondly, we must pray and seek God. Then, we must turn from our wickedness. In return, God will hear from heaven, He will forgive our sins, and He will heal our land. These are steps that are not only imperative for America, but for the whole of humanity, as the problem of sin is a worldwide epidemic. In order for us to come to a full understanding of the scope and magnitude of this verse, as well as how it applies to us, we'll break it down into its individual parts and take an in-depth look at it.
"If my people..." The nation of Israel were God's chosen people, although they had proven their disloyalty many times. Today, we, as Christians, are God's chosen people, a "spiritual Israel". No higher honor could be given than to be bestowed with the title of "God's people". However, we show disloyalty many times, as well, and this is really the aim of the verse, to give a person, or a nation, a blueprint for returning to God.
"...which are called by my name..." America was founded upon the principles of God, and our laws and statutes were established in order to promote godliness. The Declaration of Independence credits our Creator with endowing each of us with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since 1864, "In God We Trust" has appeared on all US coins, and in 1956 it became the official motto of the United States. May we, as a nation, never forget the Source of our blessings, and the morals and ethics upon which this country was founded. If this country is to be turned around, it will be God's people who will have to lead the charge.
"...shall humble themselves..." It is no coincidence that the first directive given by God here is to humble ourselves. Without humility, we cannot see our desperate need for reconciliation to God. We are told in James 4:10..."Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.", and in 1 Peter 5:6..."Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." Jesus tells us in Matthew 23:12..."And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." The underlying concept of humility is one of submission to God. This is what makes humility such a paradox. We must let go of all that would build us up, that would make us appear greater than we are, in order to actually be built up, and become all that we are meant to be. It consists of the acknowledgement of our inability to make it without God, of our dependence upon His provision, His love, His mercy, and His grace.
"...and pray, and seek my face..." Prayer is our point of contact. When a humble heart reaches out to God, and seeks to connect with Him, He is more than willing to meet us halfway. He will even help us to pray, when we do not know what we should pray for, as we read in Romans 8:26-27..."Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." It is our willingness to humble ourselves, and to admit our faults, that God recognizes. When we open ourselves up to the leading of the Spirit, and seek to align our lives with the will of God, we bridge the gap. The Spirit can then intercede on our behalf, and bring us into a closer relationship with God.
"...and turn from their wicked ways;..." This is the sticking point for many of us. The breaching of our own will in deference to God's will is a very difficult transition to make. There are times when it seems almost impossible, and we may break one bad habit only to find that another, more insidious, compulsion takes its place. Our sin may be hidden from the eyes of others, but it is never hidden from the eyes of God. We read in Proverbs 28:13..."He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." We must be willing to acknowledge our sin before God. 1 John 1:9 tells us..."If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." It is only through the voluntary emptying of one's self and the pursuit of clarity and purification that only God can provide that we will see real and lasting change. It is only God who can truly transform us. No self help book, no psychiatrist, no guru or life coach can make the changes that God can make. Only by His Spirit can we be renewed, and revitalized, and only the precious blood of Jesus can reshape us into the new creation that He would have us to be, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17..."Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
"...then will I hear from heaven..." God is patiently waiting to hear from us. He is longsuffering in His mercy, and He longs for the day that we will return to Him. Jesus tells us in Luke 15:7..."I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Jesus also relayed in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:20, as the son comes to himself, and resigns himself to the fact that he is no longer worthy to be called a son, but will rather go to his father and ask to become a hired servant, that "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." God knows all, He sees all, He hears all, and He is listening for us to cry out to Him. He is waiting for an opportunity to run to us.
"...and will forgive their sin..." Forgiveness is the single most important need that we have. Above even food, water, and shelter, forgiveness takes preeminence because without it, we cannot be assured of a home in heaven. We may have all that we need in this life, and much more, but without forgiveness of our sins, we have nothing. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:26..."For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" We must first recognize our need for forgiveness, however, and this realization is discouraged in today's society. People are told today that they are ok just the way that they are, that they have no need for vindication, nothing to be sorry for. The truth is, there is no one who does not need the forgiveness of God. We read in Romans 3:23-24..."For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
"...and will heal their land."... The healing of our nation, as well as all of the nations of the world, needs to be our highest priority. Countless thousands are dying in sin every day, and we must do all within our power to stem this tide of destruction. Change begins with each one of us. As we, as individuals, humble ourselves, and begin to pray, and seek for God to forgive us and change us into what He would have us to be, we become a part of the solution rather than the problem. Let us work toward humility, and pray that God would forgive our iniquities and heal our land, that our nation would return to God and to the principles upon which it was founded, and once again become a great nation.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and will turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Let us first notice that there are three distinct steps that we must take, and three specific actions that God will take in response. First, we must humble ourselves. Secondly, we must pray and seek God. Then, we must turn from our wickedness. In return, God will hear from heaven, He will forgive our sins, and He will heal our land. These are steps that are not only imperative for America, but for the whole of humanity, as the problem of sin is a worldwide epidemic. In order for us to come to a full understanding of the scope and magnitude of this verse, as well as how it applies to us, we'll break it down into its individual parts and take an in-depth look at it.
"If my people..." The nation of Israel were God's chosen people, although they had proven their disloyalty many times. Today, we, as Christians, are God's chosen people, a "spiritual Israel". No higher honor could be given than to be bestowed with the title of "God's people". However, we show disloyalty many times, as well, and this is really the aim of the verse, to give a person, or a nation, a blueprint for returning to God.
"...which are called by my name..." America was founded upon the principles of God, and our laws and statutes were established in order to promote godliness. The Declaration of Independence credits our Creator with endowing each of us with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Since 1864, "In God We Trust" has appeared on all US coins, and in 1956 it became the official motto of the United States. May we, as a nation, never forget the Source of our blessings, and the morals and ethics upon which this country was founded. If this country is to be turned around, it will be God's people who will have to lead the charge.
"...shall humble themselves..." It is no coincidence that the first directive given by God here is to humble ourselves. Without humility, we cannot see our desperate need for reconciliation to God. We are told in James 4:10..."Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.", and in 1 Peter 5:6..."Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." Jesus tells us in Matthew 23:12..."And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." The underlying concept of humility is one of submission to God. This is what makes humility such a paradox. We must let go of all that would build us up, that would make us appear greater than we are, in order to actually be built up, and become all that we are meant to be. It consists of the acknowledgement of our inability to make it without God, of our dependence upon His provision, His love, His mercy, and His grace.
"...and pray, and seek my face..." Prayer is our point of contact. When a humble heart reaches out to God, and seeks to connect with Him, He is more than willing to meet us halfway. He will even help us to pray, when we do not know what we should pray for, as we read in Romans 8:26-27..."Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." It is our willingness to humble ourselves, and to admit our faults, that God recognizes. When we open ourselves up to the leading of the Spirit, and seek to align our lives with the will of God, we bridge the gap. The Spirit can then intercede on our behalf, and bring us into a closer relationship with God.
"...and turn from their wicked ways;..." This is the sticking point for many of us. The breaching of our own will in deference to God's will is a very difficult transition to make. There are times when it seems almost impossible, and we may break one bad habit only to find that another, more insidious, compulsion takes its place. Our sin may be hidden from the eyes of others, but it is never hidden from the eyes of God. We read in Proverbs 28:13..."He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." We must be willing to acknowledge our sin before God. 1 John 1:9 tells us..."If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." It is only through the voluntary emptying of one's self and the pursuit of clarity and purification that only God can provide that we will see real and lasting change. It is only God who can truly transform us. No self help book, no psychiatrist, no guru or life coach can make the changes that God can make. Only by His Spirit can we be renewed, and revitalized, and only the precious blood of Jesus can reshape us into the new creation that He would have us to be, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17..."Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
"...then will I hear from heaven..." God is patiently waiting to hear from us. He is longsuffering in His mercy, and He longs for the day that we will return to Him. Jesus tells us in Luke 15:7..."I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Jesus also relayed in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:20, as the son comes to himself, and resigns himself to the fact that he is no longer worthy to be called a son, but will rather go to his father and ask to become a hired servant, that "when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." God knows all, He sees all, He hears all, and He is listening for us to cry out to Him. He is waiting for an opportunity to run to us.
"...and will forgive their sin..." Forgiveness is the single most important need that we have. Above even food, water, and shelter, forgiveness takes preeminence because without it, we cannot be assured of a home in heaven. We may have all that we need in this life, and much more, but without forgiveness of our sins, we have nothing. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:26..."For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" We must first recognize our need for forgiveness, however, and this realization is discouraged in today's society. People are told today that they are ok just the way that they are, that they have no need for vindication, nothing to be sorry for. The truth is, there is no one who does not need the forgiveness of God. We read in Romans 3:23-24..."For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
"...and will heal their land."... The healing of our nation, as well as all of the nations of the world, needs to be our highest priority. Countless thousands are dying in sin every day, and we must do all within our power to stem this tide of destruction. Change begins with each one of us. As we, as individuals, humble ourselves, and begin to pray, and seek for God to forgive us and change us into what He would have us to be, we become a part of the solution rather than the problem. Let us work toward humility, and pray that God would forgive our iniquities and heal our land, that our nation would return to God and to the principles upon which it was founded, and once again become a great nation.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and will turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
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