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 I will heal their land.
II Chronicles 7:14
Did you download this month’s Write the WORD bookmark? If so, you know the verses selected all are chosen because they can speak to us in times of trouble. Trouble can lead us to fret and frenzy, to hyperactivity or fearful paralysis. Sometimes we alternate through all those responses in the course of a day!
Times of trouble are heart-revealers. Times of trouble are also opportunities for us to walk out our faith. Choosing faith over the two extremes — fear or frenzy — is hard. But it’s also possible.
If we want to stand in faith, I’m convinced we must abide in His Word and remain in a spirit of prayer. And that’s precisely what we hope reading, writing, and praying the Word this month (and every month) will help you do!
The verse above from II Chronicles 7:14 may be familiar to many of us. During May — the month when we observe the National Day of Prayer — this is an often-quoted favorite. You may read it, and even tend to immediately move to “scan” mode … thinking, “I know this one.”
But do you know it? Have you dissected it? Let’s parse this verse today and glean some insight, phrase by phrase:
My people ⇒ Clearly, this verse is directed to the people of God.
Who are called by my name ⇒ When we define ourselves as Christians, we take on the name of Christ!
If…then ⇒ This verse has covenant language. God has four things for us to do, and then He promises what He will do.
Our four things:
- We must humble ourselves.
Perhaps the reason we bow our heads or bow our knee when we pray is to adopt a physical posture that reflects our inward attitude. Only a humble heart can truly seek God. The best antidote for pride is to come before God. In His presence, we are aware of who He is – and who we are not. - Pray.
We all believe in prayer. If prayer were outlawed, we would make signs and march to protest. Yet, in our freedom to pray, we often fail to pray. Prayer is less about getting what we want and more about getting ourselves aligned with what God wants. Before we engage to do things for God, it is imperative we spend time with God. - Seek His Face.
We know we have persevered in prayer— we have prayed through to amen — when we can truly seek His face and be content with His will. Our Lord Jesus wrestled in prayer the night before His crucifixion. He was prayed up when He was ready to pray the prayer that never fails, “Thy will be done.” (Matthew 26:29-42) - Turn from wicked ways.
God did not call us to turn from our sin first. Cleaning ourselves up is never a prerequisite to come before Him. God knows we cannot conquer our sin on our own. It’s only possible in Him and through Him. The awareness of our sin comes when we stand before Him and behold His holy perfection. I can turn from my wicked ways because I have turned to Him. He enables me to do what I can never do on my own. This is not legalism, friend. This is freedom. Joy. Peace.
And when we do our part, God does His. Note the three “I will’s” in this passage:
- I will hear.
We may find it impossible to get an appointment with the mayor, the governor, the president, the CEO, or the committee chair, but God is available to us 24/7. The Creator of the Universe listens to us. He hears us when we call. - I will forgive.
His well of forgiveness never runs dry. He continues to pump it out far beyond what the most patient of humans would consider reasonable. Are we carrying a burden that can be lifted for the asking? Why struggle under the load of guilt and shame when freedom and forgiveness are available? Sin loses its grip on us when we allow Him to lift it. - I will heal their land.
When followers of God seek God, those in the land are also recipients of His grace. Our blessings become the blessings of our fellow humans. Healing may be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. God’s thoughts and God’s ways are higher than our own. (Isaiah 55:8-9). We see with human eyes, while He sees for eternity. But He is trustworthy. He is a God of love. He is for us.
I read this verse and am startled and humbled to realize that I am culpable for many of things I have too often blamed on the world — the media, the schools, the government, the entertainment industry, etc. I have been good at identifying the problems, but in this passage, God challenges me to be part of the answer.
Will you join with me this month in praying for our country? I published a video on my ministry YouTube channel this week, inviting others to join me to pray each day in May. I’ve chosen a hashtag — #HighNoonHighTime — and each day in May, at noon Central time (Lord willing!), I’ll be using our daily “Times of Trouble” verse on social media to prompt prayer for our nation and world.
I hope you will join me in praying, too.
Download this month’s Write The Word: Times of Trouble
bookmarks & S.O.A.P. study pages!
Visit www.AReasonFor.com to learn more!