2 Chronicles 7:14 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 I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Context: God appeared to Solomon after the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem and spoke: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people,( 2 Chronicles 7:12b-13). God warned that His blessings would be removed if the people turned away from Him.
From the lexicon: Humble=bow the knee, subdue. Seek=search after. Turn=turn back, retreat. Evil=bad, evil. Ways=course of action. Sin=offence.
Pulling it together: God’s admonition to Israel just as important to His Church. We are His people and are the called unto His purpose (Romans 8:28) and are called by His Name. We live in troubled times. Our very way of life appears threatened. We pray for revival in our land, but revival begins in God’s house and in me.
God calls His people to humble ourselves, that is, to lay aside our self-interests and to seek Him, giving Him His rightful place in our hearts. We are admonished to pray, but not some grocer-list type of prayer (God do this, God do that), but prayer that seeks God’s will and leads us to repentance. Revival in Church history came as God’s people in the church began praying, which led to soul searching leading to repentance and changed lives. Then comes the promise from God to heal our land.
Lord, I pray, for a healing of our land, our society. I pray that You would begin in me. Search my heart And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24). Change my life and those of the people around me.