“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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
DEVOTION – by Sonny Lallerstedt:
It’s always good to read a scripture in context, so reach for your Bible and spend a few moments reading 2 Chronicles chapter 7. This scripture is for Israel, and it was given after the dedication of the first temple that was built by Solomon. Israel had experienced many ups and downs, as we’ve seen reading on our journey through the Bible. There were great blessings when they followed God wholeheartedly.
Things really fell apart when they went astray from His ways. God gives them, once again, this great promise to abide by, which was made clear by simply paying attention to the history of their country, and God’s dealings with them. God always looks to the Heart of the people.
Notice verse 15.
“Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”
This leads us to a verse just a few chapters later. Let’s look at 2 Chronicles 16:9.
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…”
He would not only bless and heal the heart of Israel, but of the whole earth!
Our country was built upon and relied upon God Almighty when it was established. History has documented many of our leaders who knew the absolute importance of 2 Chronicles 7:14. God would bless a people with a loyal heart towards Him. Our country has fallen far away from our dependence on the God of our fathers. We have made ourselves god, and have no need for the God of Eternity, and His Son, Jesus Christ. God is now an offense to us as a country; we’ve taken prayer out of schools and taken people to court over acknowledging dependence on Him, even on sports fields. We have grieved the Heart of our Father by taking the lives of unborn children… and the list goes on.
According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, God is looking for:
My people
Called by My Name
A humbled people
A people praying/seeking My face
2 Chronicles 16:9 says He’s looking all over the earth to find hearts loyal to Him. Will He find this heart anywhere in our country? In our church? In us? He says “…then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Our Country is in desperate need of His intervention. May we, on our knees, with humbled hearts, cry out to our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. May those of us who know Him have boldness in the Holy Spirit to share the Good News of Jesus in our day-to-day lives.
PRAYER:
Matthew 6:5-13 teaches us how to pray. One of the ways we teach children to remember this passage is through the A.C.T.S. acronym.
Adoration
Our Father, we thank You for loving us with an Everlasting love, and we thank you that You have mercy on those who will return to You. We thank You that through Jesus we have forgiveness of sin, and it is a complete and finished work for whosoever will turn from their ways and turn to You.
Confession
We repent for the wicked ways of our country. Forgive us of our trespasses, for they are many. We pray for our leaders to receive Jesus Christ as Lord, and acknowledge our dependence as a country upon Him. That they would have wisdom to lead our country in the way that honors You.
Thanksgiving
Thank You, Father, for Your promises in Your word. Thank you for Your Faithfulness toward all who will come to You. Your lovingkindness is better than life!
Supplication
“May the Words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”
Our staff is praying for our Faith Family as we enter a season of prayer and fasting. If we can come alongside you, please reach out to us individually or through the prayer team at prayer@sanctuaryinhim.org.
Invitation:
We invite you to join us in person at any of our weekly prayer gatherings this month:
- Monday Mornings at 7:00am in the Auditorium
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Tuesday Mornings at 10:00am in the Green Room (Room 125)
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Sunday Mornings at 8:30am in Room 104
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Women’s Prayer Night on May 15 at 7:00pm
