A Devotional Thought From 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14
In God’s answer to Solomon’s great prayer dedicating the
glorious Temple he built to God, God said, among other things: If I shut up
heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land,
or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my
name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their
wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will
heal their land.
This was a principal given to God’s people in ancient times
that has great relevance for today if applied by the peoples of the nations of
the world. Take my own land for example, we are in the midst of a pestilence
(Covid 19), our land in some places is being devoured (looted, destroyed and
burned), and we are not experiencing the cool calming rain of civil discourse
that allows the nation to discuss and deal with the issues of the day. Needless
to say, but I will say it anyway, these are not good things for our people and
our land.
Do we want our nation restored to being a great place for
all people? A place were we can live safely, and raise our little ones with the
confidence that others will care for them and protect them because we are part
of one family of free people in this nation? A place that offers the
opportunities of prosperity to all who will play fairly and work hard? A place
that experiences all the wonderful blessings available when a nation is at its
best?
God gives a playbook here in these verses to restore such
goodness. Humble yourselves, we don’t know it all, other voices might have good
ideas even if they are not our own. More importantly humble yourselves before
God Who does know what is best. Pray. Get in touch with God, let Him speak to your
heart with His truth and guidance. And, turn from wicked ways, from wrong doing
and do right. Do you want your land restored? The people can do it by following
these gracious directions. Each individual helps restore the nation by making
these changes in his/her life.
