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November/December 2024“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV).
This verse has gotten a lot of use in the past few election cycles. It conveys a deep message, and when you understand the context in which God said these words to Solomon, you are made aware that God always knew His people would go astray. Thankfully, in His grace, God made provision for them to return to a right relationship with Him.
We have gone astray as a nation. This verse was intended for the nation of Israel, and yet like all of Scripture, it was written for us, even when not written to us. Though these words were spoken to Solomon after he had finished building and sanctifying the temple, these words contain a principle that we know holds true for those of us who are under grace through the new covenant.
I would like to first draw your attention to what we do not see. We do not see the things God promises to do being contingent upon a national revival sweeping across America. It is not up to the average non-believer in America to do something to carry favor with the Lord in order for God to bless us. It is contingent upon God’s people, those specifically called by His name, to do four things before God does three things.
Those who are called by the name of the Lord must truly be His people and they must first begin to humble themselves. True humility puts things in proper order. We must stop seeking our own interests, plans, and desires and humble ourselves so that we can recognize this life is not about us. We must rightly identify that we are lower than God, not the other way around. In our arrogance and pride, we have sought to see what can be gained, earned, stolen or traded for in this life. It is time to see what we can give back to God.
We have kicked God out of the schools in this nation, out of the courts, and even now we are actively kicking God out of the public square, while at the same time, we expect Him to bless us. That does not seem reverent or humble to me. It is time for us to see things from God’s perspective and through the lens of His Word and not our own desires.
Second, we must pray. If you do not pray, you are not having fellowship with the Lord. I am amazed at how misunderstood prayer truly is. I do not believe anyone truly comprehends the power of prayer. We have turned prayer into some trivial one-way conversation with God. Our prayers are perfunctory and vain. We must understand that prayer is critical. When the praying believer aligns their will with God’s will, there is nothing outside of their grasp. We must invite God from a position of humility to both guide us and get involved with every area of our lives. We must directly seek repentance and forgiveness from God through prayer.
Third, we must seek God’s face. It is not His hands or feet that we seek because hands and feet are not how we identify someone. We identify people by their face. God wants us to know Him and to actively seek Him out. He should never be a “last resort” or casual thought; He deserves to be preeminent in our lives, not just prominent.
Fourth, we must turn away from our wicked ways. We are a nation who murders the unborn, punishes the good, allows the wicked to run free in society, indoctrinates our youth with sexual perversion and many other Godless abominations. We have turned repentance into a synonym for “sorry,” which it is not. Repentance comes from the Greek word “Metanoia,” which means a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree change of direction. We must turn away from our sins and back to God.
My question to you the reader is, where are God’s people in the current state of affairs? Are we starting to wake up or are we asleep at the wheel? Whatever the answer may be, we must do these four things if we want to see change in this nation. We cannot expect to circumvent this formula just because we once were a Christian nation.
If we want God to hear from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land, it is time for us as believers to stand up and start living as the salt and the light to a world trapped in the darkness of this present age that we might see actual change.
Email: AliveMinistriesUSA@gmail.com
