If My People

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 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 will heal their land.”

After Solomon finished praying his dedicatory prayer for the Temple, “fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple.” (2 Chronicles 7:1)

After about two weeks of celebrating the festival and dedication, and after Solomon had done everything he had set out to do regarding the Temple, the Lord appeared to him at night. God said He heard his prayer and had “chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.” (verse 12)

God continues in the passage we have before us today, part of which (verse 14) is very familiar to a lot of Christians. But many people do not realize the full sentence starts in verse 13. God reminds us that it is He, and He alone, who commands nature in order to judge nations or people groups.

When we are beset by trials or judgments, whether caused by God, or by the consequences of poor human choices, we have the responsibility to do four things if we want God to hear, forgive and heal; that is, we must humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways.

Make sure you do your part when you cry out to Him.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Tell the Father you are humbly repentant, and ask His Spirit to empower you to turn from evil.

Dive Deeper: Study 2 Chronicles 7; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:4-10; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:1-2.