I decided to take a detour from the Beatitudes today. Don't worry, we'll get back to them. But this was just laid on my heart, and I wanted to speak about it while it is fresh and relevant.
Consider this verse, one that most of us know well (at least the second portion of the passage):
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NIV).
Now think about our nation's situation. We may not have plagues of locusts at our door or a drought across the entire land (though some portions of the country have certainly felt that pain), but our nation is about to go through a lean and dry time financially. It has, in fact, already started. We are hurting, and the downturn in the financial markets, the mortgage crisis, the possible failure of the large car manufacturers, and the failure of myriad other small businesses casts a shadow on us. Other problems are likely looming on the horizon, as well, in this regard.
Read that verse again now. It says "If my people, who are called by my name," will pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways...then the land will be healed. It doesn't say if everyone in the nation converts (though we should certainly be evangelizing as part of that seeking God's face). It doesn't say if they leaders get things right. And it doesn't say if everyone will pray. It says if my people will pray.
Are we praying? Do we care if our land is fixed? (Surely we all do.) Then why aren't we praying, seeking, and turning?
Challenge for today: Pray. Pray for our nation. Pray that you know how to seek God's face, and take one step to seek Him today. Pray that He shows you anything that you need to turn from...and make a 180-degree. Don't think about turning tomorrow or consider if you really need to turn from it. If there is something that you need to make a break with, a known sin, something that God lays on your heart while you are praying and seeking Him, run from it. And then KEEP PRAYING.
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Hi Cal! I enjoyed the article, but especially this, "Pray that he shows you anything you need to turn from...and make a 180-degree." Isaiah says, "when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." That's what these hard times are for, to turn us, particularly those called by Him name, back to God, back to prayer. While I don't necessarily agree that our country, and in particular those in governmental power, will get the healing for which you are asking to pray (we've gone too far too fast down the slippery slope and our leadership reflects us), God can and will bring spiritually healing to all those who repent individually, and then corporately as part of His Kingdom - the body of Christ. This is what I'm praying for - that many of us Christians during this time of tribulation will relearn and seek after righteousness...may the Lord make it so! Be blessed, good article!
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