“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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

We have heard this scripture many times, so many times perhaps, that it does not penetrate our hearts:

King Solomon had built the temple that his father, David, had in his heart. The Lord met with him in the night hour speaking words of promise to him. This is when the verse from 2 Chronicles originated. It was for the nation. It was for Solomon.

Many times, we, as believers, have congregated together and prayed this and sought the Lord for our land. We have repented for the sins that our country has adopted. We have wept and interceded. That is powerful. Moses did that for a people who had forsaken their God. Prophets did that for the nation of Israel. The voices of “God’s people” have reached heaven many times. And the Lord spared nations because of those pleas.

In fact, if you remember, Abraham asked the Lord to spare the city of Sodom if just 10 people were found righteous in that city. In the end, the Lord saved only four people. Then the city was destroyed.

God hears the cries of his people for a nation. But as I was reciting the above verse in 2 Chronicles, I noticed something. You know how you can read a verse over and over and each time the Lord will show you a different aspect?

In this verse, I noticed he was asking HIS people to seek him. He was asking HIS people to turn from “their” wicked ways. THEN he would hear from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land. Like I said earlier, it is so important to intercede for others, but this time I noticed that he wasn’t necessarily asking us to repent for what others were doing. He was asking us to repent from “OUR” wicked ways.

Suddenly I realized that the Lord was directing this to ME. I am called by him. I am responsible to turn to him, to seek him and to turn from MY wicked ways. I can pray for the nation and I can cry out for the Lord to forgive the nation for its sins (this is interceding and like I said, is part of the Christian walk) but this time I heard, “You are called by my name. Humble yourself. Seek me. Turn from “YOUR” wicked ways.” It became more personal.

Psalm 139:23 &24 (GWT) states, “Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me and know my thoughts. See whether I am on an evil path. THEN lead me on the everlasting path.”

The Lord takes us on a journey. He prepares us for a mission. He strengthens us when we are weary and cleanses our hearts from things that would distract us, things that would turn our hearts away from what he has for us. We are not here just to live, but to follow his voice for our lives.

Remember, he came to bring ABUNDANT life. It isn’t just about the best house, vacations and experiences. It is about KNOWING our LORD and drawing others to him.

So, I said:

“Lord cleanse my heart from anything I have in my heart that is not holy before your eyes. Cleanse my heart from anxious thoughts and distractions of this life that are whispering for my attention. Keep me on the straight and narrow. Help me to seek your face and hear your voice and show me if there is anything that is wicked in me. Forgive me Father (Why?) because, your ways are ALWAYS better than mine and you have a life full of abundance for me. Lord heal my heart. Heal me emotionally and physically in this hour so that I CAN intercede for those around me.” Amen.

During these hours, we should each be seeking our Lord so that we can be prepared to intercede on the behalf of others. Seek him.

God bless.