THE PROMISE

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7.14 {nlt}

I don’t know about you but when I read this verse I can’t help but notice that there is a lot I have to do before I get to the promise. God asks that we first “humble ourselves”, which means we have to overcome our inward desire to control our life’s outcome. Then He asks us to “pray and seek” His face; an outward gesture of our dependence on our Father in heaven to steer our path.

Let’s pause for a moment and consider what this Father steering would look like. I would imagine that if God was in the driver seat of our life we wouldn’t be sitting in His lap as He safely navigated us through life. Nor do I think we would be sitting next to Him in the passenger seat cringing at every stop or turn made that didn’t agree with us. I believe in order for this to really happen the way God designed it to happen we would be in the backseat enjoying the ride. Fully confident in God’s ability to bring us to the place He wants us to be.

Moving on toward the promise God calls us to “turn” and this is where the rubber meets the road. Everything else that God requires us to do up until this point required only an inward commitment. Now God is asking that we take what He is doing to change our inward appearance to produce a change in our outward appearance. I’m reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 15.18 “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.” When we turn from our sin this is an outward proclamation of what God is doing in our own hearts. This last step is most important if we really desire to see the promise come to pass.

God knows that the steps He has laid out for us to take in order for us to take hold of the promise will not come without sacrifice. Consider what we are receiving in return and I’m not even talking about the promise. We are receiving greater intimacy with our Father who longs for us to long for Him.

As we turn to God today in the second day of our fast let’s spend some time confessing and repenting not only for our sins but for the sins of our communities, our campuses, our families, and our nation. Our relationship with God will be strengthened and our desire to grow the Kingdom will be fulfilled.

Heavenly Father, I confess my need for a Savior today. I’m a sinner in need of your grace and mercy. Please forgive me of my sins and allow me to rest in the power of your salvation. Restore the work of your salvation in my community and on my campus so that all may declare their love for you. In your powerful and holy name, AMEN!