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)

How many times have we reminded God of this promise in recent months? We cherish God’s promises. We pray them. We believe them, but do we meet God’s conditions? Many promises found in Scripture are based on particular conditions being met. Sometimes the conditions God has placed on His promises are in a nearby verse, but in 2 Chronicles 7:14, the conditions are quite obvious.

First, God expects His people, believers, to cry out on behalf of their nation. Have you been born again? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ rather than simply cold religion? Jesus will return, and you do not want to remain on this earth once He withdraws the Holy Spirit from earth and begins pouring out His wrath on those who remain.

Next, God wants His people to humble themselves. Sometimes, we, as Christians, get prideful. If God had not saved us, we might be the ones supporting the ungodly of this world. We might be the ones in the abortion clinics. We might be the ones sitting in a bar on Saturday nights. We might be the ones promoting gay pride. We might be the ones looting and burning down stores. We cannot take credit for our own righteousness because it isn’t ours. It belongs to Christ. Therefore, we have no reason to be proud. Just grateful.

God says that we must pray and seek His face or presence. This isn’t your ordinary prayer. This is a powerful, gut-wrenching plea for forgiveness and restoration.

The final condition to this promise is a command for believers to turn from their wicked ways. That’s right, believers. Not the abortionist, not the politicians, not the evil people of the world, but the people of God. Christians must turn from their wicked ways.

How many gods do we serve? The god of materialism? The god of image? The god of food? We are to have no other gods besides God the Father.

What about worldliness? Do we have one foot in the church and the other foot in the world? We should be in the world, but not of the world.

Let’s glance at the Ten Commandments that our nation has tried to hide. We don’t rob banks, but do we cheat on our taxes? We don’t commit adultery, but do we look at porn? We don’t murder, but do we hate someone we can’t forgive?

What about complacency? Has prayer, Bible study or church attendance become a routine? Do we fail to believe that God still answers prayers? Has our faith grown weak?

Once we meet all those conditions. Then and only then, will God forgive and heal our land. The time has come for God’s people to meet His conditions… before it’s too late.

Heavenly Father, forgive us! We have murdered the unborn. We have chosen other gods to follow? We have walked too closely with the world. Oh Lord God, hear our cries! Forgive us as a nation! Heal our land and our hearts for Your sake. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

DIG DEEPER

Read 2 Chronicles 7:13-22.

HIKING THE TRAIL

Memorize 2 Chronicles 7:14. Start putting it into action. If one person does this, it could make a difference, as it did for Daniel. Can you imagine if we all do it?

RELATED RESOURCE

Is your prayer life in need of something different? Energy, power or persistence? Check out Incense Rising: 60 Days to Powerful Prayer. Here

Check out this devotional: How Can We Pray for Our Nation?

Originally posted on October 26, 2020 @ 3:00 am