Be Humble, Pray, and Seek the Lord  

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:12-16 NLT – Then one night the LORD appeared to – Bible Gateway

“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 NIV

A few days ago Donald Trump, the president of the United States, read a portion of Scripture as part of a marathon reading of the Bible in an America 250-themed event. The United States will celebrate its 250^th anniversary of independence on July 4^th of this year. The passage he read from in 2 Chronicles was appropriate as the Lord promises to bless those who call on Him and He will restore their land. America sure needs it. The news media did not see it that way but criticized the reading as misrepresenting the Bible and not applicable to our time. Granted it was a different time and I will not make this a political piece (that is for our Saturday’s Christian Perspective each week) but this passage does apply. It applies as an example for the nation and for every person in the world today. The Bible is God’s living and breathing Word and it applies to everyone every day.

Christians can claim the words ‘Then if my people who are called by my name’ as applying to them, which I am one. When one accepts Christ as savior they have been drawn by the Holy Spirit unto salvation. We are called ‘Christians’ after Jesus Christ’s name and the Holy Spirit resides in every Chrisitan upon salvation. The Lord says when we humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face that He will hear us.

The Lord also demands that we turn from our wicked ways. Turning to God in prayer seeking Him with a humble attitude while still sinning against Him brings into question, how serious are we? Do we care about restoration or do we want to keep a couple of sins in our back pocket. The Lord God wants one-hundred percent commitment in our humility, prayer, seeking Him, and turning away from our sin. He then promises to forgive us and restore us. Yes, this passage applies today for everyone. Praise God that it does!