How Do We Bring Healing to Our Land?

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

I am sure there are millions of people around the world praying for God to heal their land as am I.  I must admit though, my heart was a little conflicted while praying this morning. One of my prayers was asking God to push back and rid this world of the current Corona virus. As I started to pray other requests came to mind. One thing I have prayed for is that God would do what it takes to create revival in my heart and in the hearts of my family. Then also in my church, this nation, and the world.  

As I continued in prayer I asked God how to best pray for this situation.  Do I pray for the difficult situation to go away?  So often it has been the hard parts of life that caused this stubborn, “dumb sheep” gal to fully surrender to God. Although I believe God does not want us to suffer, I started to ask myself, "What if God is allowing this current chaos so that we will turn and give Him our full attention? What if God is using this to draw the hearts of believers back to their first love?  And could it be that He will use this to draw multitudes to Himself?"  Maybe so.  As we consider how to pray for our current situation, let's walk through the verse from Chronicles.  It isn’t just about prayer. There are other directives given to us so that God will heal our land.

1. Humble yourselves. 

Admit it.  We are a prideful people.  Many (most? all?) days we can get up and initiate our schedule, our desires, and our ways as if we are totally in charge of our life.  We take pride it all that we accomplish.  Although self motivation and pride in our work are good things, the reality of it is that we can do nothing without Christ.  Every breath we are given is a gift from God.  He is our creator and sustainer.   Take time to humble yourself before God.  Ask Him to reveal areas of your life where you may be puffed up with pride.  Acknowledge your need for Him then resolve to change.

2.  Pray.  

While this is a passion of mine, I always feel the need to go deeper, longer, and to listen with a more teachable heart.  Prayer is something that all too often is pushed aside to make room for other things.  It is often seen as a unnecessary until times of crisis.  Prayer is mentioned well over 100 times in the Bible.  I imagine that means it's something God wants us to prioritize.  In this verse, we are told to do so in order to move God to bring about healing in the land.  Make prayer time a priority.  And make praying throughout the day, in every circumstance a habit.

3. Seek my face.

 

 Does anyone have a tendency to be independent?  Umm. Here is where I raise my hand.  I get up and start my day without even uttering a word to God or asking Him what He has for me that day.  I make choices without consulting Him.  I formulate conclusions without asking God to give me any insight.  Like the words Paul used, I can be the “chief of sinners” when it comes to being dependent on myself instead of God. BUT I have found it necessary to stop and  acknowledge that I need God for every breath, every decision, every relationship, for wisdom and discernment, for everything.  His way is the absolute best way to go! Seeking His face and bowing my knee to God in every area of my life is necessary. Seek His face above all else.

4. Turn from their wicked ways.

 

Some believers are openly living in ways that are contrary to God's Word.  Their lives show little of Christ and they know where they need to change.  If you don't fall into that category, it's easy to feel like you are doing just fine.  But maybe you're not.  One of my favorite verses is from Psalm 119.  It says, "Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions."  How do we lie to ourselves?  Maybe there are areas of our life, private or out in the open, that we have convinced ourselves what we are doing is fine.  In reality, we are lying to ourselves and what we are doing is ungodly.  I encourage you to do the first three things listed above - humble yourself, pray, seek God's face - and ask Him to reveal areas where you are walking contrary to God's ways.  Turn from you wicked ways.  

And what is promises when we do these things?  God says, "then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  What a good and faithful God.  Still waiting.  Still working.  Still ready to forgive.  Always ready to heal.  

 

Lord, may it be so.  Heal our land.  Yes, of this virus but even more so, heal our hearts.  May we be humble, prayerful, seeking your face, and turning from our wicked ways.  May we be yours wholly.  May the healing begin inside of us.  May revival sweep through the land, pushing away the darkness and shining your light.  Revive us Lord.