2 Chronicles 7:14 “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

A PROMISE FROM GOD

This verse is quoted so very often by people who don’t really look at the whole context.  That seems to be the case with a lot of God’s promises in the Bible.  People want the promise without understanding what God expects.

Solomon had just delivered his awesome prayer to God at the dedication of the temple.  The nation had celebrated for seven days and had made thousands of sacrifices to Jehovah God.  The aroma of the burnt sacrifices probably still filled the air around Jerusalem.  And God speaks to Solomon at night and tells him, “Yes, I will dwell here and I will do all you ask if…”

TEACHING MOMENT

How often do you tell your children, “If you clean your room, then…”?  Or you say, “If you want to go the park, then you need to…”  If…then.  The next time you catch yourself saying that, pull out this verse and talk to them how the Lord told Solomon the same thing.  If he stayed true to the Lord, then the Lord would bless him.  If the Lord’s people would “humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

If…then.  This promise still holds true today.  I truly believe the reason America is going through the times we are right now is because we have NOT done these four things.  As Christians, our salvation does NOT rest on us DOING anything.  But we need to help our children understand that God’s blessings will be missed if we aren’t true to Him.

Let me ask you a question.  Are you humbling yourself, praying, seeking His face and turning from your wicked ways?  If not, then it is no wonder you are not “feeling” God in your life.  God cannot dwell in the midst of sin.  He is holy.  He is righteous.  God is waiting to respond to you, if you will do these four things.

I don’t know about you, but I want God’s blessings on me.  I want to be healed.  I want to be full of Him.  But I know that is ONLY possible to the extent that I yield all of me to Him.

Dear Lord, dweller among men, forgive me of my sin.  Cleanse me and make me whole.  Hear my prayer.  I pray for our nation and our world.  I pray You will move and make Your presence known among the people.