- Repentant Prayer
If my people who are called by my name 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
Some individuals and some churches dilute the Word of God with the views of culture. This is not a new development. It springs from the devil’s original lie. When in the Garden, in Genesis 3:1, he asked Eve, “Did God actually say… ?” Today, he utters similar crafty questions to both believers and non-believers: Did God actually say anything about abortion? Did God actually say anything about human sexuality? Did God actually say anything about money management?
When standards are lowered, the Gospel is undermined and God is dishonored for the sake of a “more equitable society.” The Church must stand for the truth of God against the false doctrines of the world. Theologian David Wells said that compromising God’s values with the world’s values brings disastrous consequences to God’s people. In his book, No Place for Truth, Dr. Wells states that the church in this nation has lost its foundation of God-centeredness.
An “if-then” solution is presented in today’s verse for realignment with God and His Word, with four significant requisites. People who declare themselves to be followers of Christ Jesus must take on the attitude of humility. They need to pray, not just perfunctory “bless this” and “do that” prayers, but the kind that empties the heart before the throne of a loving and listening God. Seeking His face requires time immersed in His Word, “studying to show yourself approved” (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV), becoming a vessel the Lord can use. And repent, a 180-degree turn away from unrighteousness. When those things occur, God promises to hear, forgive, and heal.
Pray for Christ-followers in the United States to hold onto truth without compromise. Ask the Lord to strengthen believers to be ready to speak the truth, in love, when opportunities arise. Pray especially for Christians in Congress to be devoted to their relationship with the Lord and courageous in holding onto Biblical values.
Today’s Verse: 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people who are called by my name 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.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Mark 28-34; Luke 18:9-14
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
