If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7: 14)
IF MY PEOPLE
Everything that God created and commanded from the very beginning was for a purpose. From heaven and earth to the light, and from Adam and Eve being told to be fruitful and multiply. To Noah building the ark to save his family to God telling Abraham to walk before Him and be perfect, making a covenant so God could multiply him exceedingly. To Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (the dreamer) sold into slavery by his brothers, but God took something meant for evil to prepare the very ones who would need a great deliverance. To Moses who talked with God, who had a great charge to bring the Children of Israel to the promised land who kept the commands of God thus doing great and mighty signs for the people to witness. To Joshua, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Esther, Job, all of the prophets, the 12 apostles who walked with Jesus being witnesses and privy to all of Jesus’ miracles and ways, and finally on down to you and I. The purpose was for God to be our Father as we serve Him in spirit and in truth obeying His commandments and giving Him honor and glory.
WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME
Not everyone is called and chosen! God looks at the heart. He delights in the faithfulness and willingness from those who He has called.
Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise. (Isaiah 43: 7, 10 & 21) We are His witnesses and examples in the earth to show what true agape love is. Our actions should always reflect who we represent.
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people. (Deuteronomy 7: 6 & 7) Being His special people, in return God said that we would be blessed above all people if we keep His commandments and walk in His ways. Not one of His promises to us has failed.
According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1: 4-6) It is through Jesus Christ that we are sanctified and called to be saints, called unto the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit because we are the temple of God, housing His precious Holy Spirit within us. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. (Psalm 50: 5)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2: 9) It’s so wonderful to be a part of something from its inception, the family of God that goes from generation to generation. God’s unfailing love has endured the test of time yet He still remains supreme, faithful and in control of everything.
SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES
But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. (James 4: 6 & 10) A meek and quiet spirit is of great price. The Lord requires us to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. As Moses led the people in the wilderness God tested and humbled them to see what was in their heart, to see if they would keep His commandments or not. Humbleness of mind and spirit has its rewards. God gives grace in abundance if we can overcome the challenges to pay back evil for evil. The flesh wants to act out but God is saying to let it go, humble yourself so that He can lift you up and give you more grace. Humbleness is not a sign of weakness but of strength. A willingness to let God handle it as we press to overcome and suppress the flesh. Even Jesus humbled Himself. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2: 8)
AND PRAY
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6: 9-13) Prayer is communication with God. We pray because of who He is and that we want to thank Him, tell Him that we adore Him. We pray for ourselves and others when we are sick, afflicted and burdened. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone. (Matthew 14: 23) Yes, Jesus prayed too. He even prayed for us right before He went to be crucified.
Jonah prayed - Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD His God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and Thou heardest my voice. (Jonah 2: 1 & 2)
Jabez prayed - And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. (1 Chronicles 4: 10)
Daniel prayed - Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. (Daniel 6: 10)
Samuel prayed - Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: (1 Samuel 12: 23)
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5: 16) Prayer is essential to the Christian lifestyle as it strengthens our walk to know that God hears and He answers according to His will. Men should always pray and not faint.
AND SEEK MY FACE
Seeking God continuously keeps us on the right track. Let our hearts rejoice as we seek Him, as we call upon Him, as we glory in His name, as we sing to Him and talk about His wondrous works.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6: 33)
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4: 29)
Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: (Isaiah 55: 6)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29: 11-13)
God is waiting to pour out blessings on us as we seek Him. The blessings come in all kinds of ways and most often when we least expect them.
AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS
On this Christian journey we tend to overlook, disregard, turn a blind eye and sometimes even refuse to turn from our wicked ways. We are called out of darkness (sin) into the marvelous light (Jesus). Our affections should be on things above, on Christ Who is our life. The old sinful man is crucified with Christ so we should walk in newness of life. Sin should not have dominion over you as you walk in Christ. Turn from your wicked ways so God can forgive you and grace can abound. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him (Colossians 3: 5-10)
It does God’s heart good to see that His children are walking in true holiness. Sanctifying our spirit is never ending. With each new day of fresh mercies also comes fresh new trials to break us down. But God is ever so faithful to see us through the storms. He will walk through the fire with us, will swim right beside us, will catch us if we should fall and will give you strength to carry on throughout the day as well as the next day.
God hears our prayers and His timing is on His clock. We can’t rush Him or delay Him. His timing is always impeccable. As we wait on His answers, time should be spent on purifying ourselves, building up our faith, working on our love and patience and learning how to please the One who paid it all. It is His good pleasure to give us His Kingdom and to communicate with us by answering prayers.
In 2 Chronicles, Chapter 20, Verses 1-30, a great multitude came up to battle Jehoshaphat. He feared, but he also set himself to seek the Lord proclaiming a fast throughout Judah. As he started his prayer he exalted God first then put his petition before God. He had no might against the great army but he was looking to the One who would hear and help them. As the prophet gave the instructions not to be afraid or dismayed but to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, Jehoshaphat and company went into worship mode. He was now able to give instructions to the people as to what to do. Believe God, believe His prophets, sing, praise the beauty of holiness. God Himself set the ambush up so that the enemy killed each other. Jehoshaphat and company showed up to the battle to find dead bodies. God had told him to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” and they saw. They were more than conquerors because they didn’t have to do a thing but show up. They took up the riches and jewels and went on their way rejoicing.
Elijah prayed - And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the LORD God, and that Thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, He is the God; the LORD, He is the God. (1 Kings 18: 36-39)
In Isaiah 38: 1-8 Hezekiah prayed and wept much after getting his death sentence. But God, who is rich in mercy heard his prayer, saw his tears, added 15 years to his life and made the sun go back 10 degrees as a sign for him.
God always wants to bless His children. Blessings are waiting in the wings for us but it is an absolute must for us to walk upright before Him. Keep the commandments at all costs. Avoid sin, read the Word of God, obey Him.
THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN,
AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND
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