2 Chronicles 7:14 states, “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

In 2 Chronicles 7, this chapter talks about the dedication of the temple that had been built as a place of worship.  As Soloman prayed, God heard and appeared to him to let him know that he had chosen this place as a temple of sacrifices and because of that he would hear and see to every prayer that was offered there.  As I thought about this, I began to wonder why some churches are having it so hard.  Is it because we have forgotten about the real reason we gather there on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, Monday night and Wednesday night?  Have we forgotten that in Matthew 18:20 where it states, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Have we forgotten the real reason for our praise?

Let’s break this thang down..

God says, if my people who are called by my name – This isn’t just talking about preachers, pastors, evangelists and missionaries, for God calls all those who are willing to work for him.  (1 Corinthians 7:17, “But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches”) so this means he has called you. 

God says,  will humble themselves – Romans 12:3, states “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” You are no better than me, so humble yourself! You put your pants on one leg at a time, just like I do, so humble yourself! If you hit your toe on the end of the table, a not so Christian like word slips out too, so humble yourself! Stop thinking that you’re higher than everybody else because you might just raise yourself too high where even God can’t reach. 

God says, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways – Pray, by definition means to make a request in a humble manner or to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving.  When the world is against you, pray! When folk talk about you, pray! When all you see is clouds, pray! When kids aren’t acting right, pray! When momma & daddy is gone, pray! When so-called friends won’t answer when you need them, pray! But in the midst of your prayer and seeking God’s face, you have to turn from YOUR wicked ways.  This didn’t say help somebody to turn from theirs.  You know the ways you have, when you see somebody coming and you don’t want to be bothered so you go another way, your sister is calling & you think it’s to beg so you don’t answer, when you see somebody on the street you roll your window up so they won’t ask you for nothing, when somebody ask for a ride but you’re too busy (& going the same way), when you’re standing at the altar and your mind is thinking about the dress that Sis. So & so is wearing instead of praying, or when you gossip about church business to folk who aren’t even members.  In order for you to be right you have to first get right. Stop allowing yourself to be dragged into other folk’s ways.  You hear somebody gossiping about your coworker and instead of you walking on by, you join in.  Humph, just because you’re a Christian it doesn’t mean that God will bless your mess any more than a person in the world.

God says, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land – When you’ve done all I’ve asked you to do, when you go where I tell you to go, when you’ve helped with the last amount of change in your pocket, gone when you didn’t have gas, fed folk when you didn’t have enough food, clothed folk with the shirt off your back, prayed on the phone when you could barely stay woke, visited the sick when you’ve worked 14 hours, offered a hug when someone needed one, offered words of comfort to a grieving friend, offered your hand for someone who has fallen or just been there to listen when someone called – God says I’ll be there! God says when you do right I’ll heal that cancer in your body, approve that car loan you put in, and give you that job you wanted and you didn’t even apply for it.  God says I’ll be there to give you joy the world can’t give or take away, wipe your tears when they flow from your eyes, give you peace that will make you sleep like a baby, put a fire in your spirit that makes you want to run when nothing is chasing you and a praise on your lips when everything is going good. God says I’m here!

If my people would pray more instead of having pity! If my people would fast more instead of fighting! If my people would help more instead of hindering! If my people would use their hands to uplift instead of bringing down, use their feet to walk right instead of over people, eyes to see the good in folk instead of judging, ears to hear the sorrow in someone’s voice instead of the words they say, arms to hold up those that are leaning instead of closing the door in their face and mouth to speak life for their brother/sister instead of speaking death then will I hear from heaven and will forgive your sin and will heal your land.  Thank you God for your word!