Day 12 – Heal our Nation

6 Steps to praying for our nation

2 Chronicles 7;14 is a great scripture used by so many these days as we ask for help from our God in our current situation.  Every day we see or hear about violence against the innocent, the hopeless plight of the poor, overwhelming sickness being caused by the pandemic and so many being overtaken by a spirit of fear. We know this is bigger than any one of us and even more than even all of us can defeat. We cry out for someone bigger than, more powerful than any and all of us to help and heal us. We need someone who is powerful, who is willing, ready, and able to master all of the problems that plague our land today. So, we quote or paraphrase this scripture. We post it on Facebook and Twitter, we see it on yard signs in all sorts of colors, fonts, and graphics but we have allowed it to become a cliché. A cliché that does not move us to a solution and seems to have little authority.

First, let’s get some context. This scripture comes from the time of King Solomon. He had just finished building a magnificent temple to exact specifications from God.  It was to be a place where God could come to dwell (Tabernacle) with his people. A place where God would come provide direction for the nation, and bless them as they walked in his commandments and laws. 2 Chronicles 7: 12 says that Solomon was praying when God appeared to him and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.” What a blessing Solomon had succeeded.

God blessed Solomon but he also understood that men would have trouble avoiding sin and that sin would separate his people from himself. God is merciful, loves us completely, and always wants the best for us so, he described that place as a part of the remedy for our separation. You see God always allows us a place of blessing where we can to him. This place is where we can return to and enjoy the bounty of creation and our authority which was first ordained at creation in the Garden (Psalm133). The restoration of our relationship with God must be resolved through our actions. This is where the healing of our nation will take place.

Let’s look at verses 13 and 14 together to see exactly what God is promising when he promises to heal our nation.

 If I shut up the sky, so that there is no rain; or if I order locusts to devour the land; or if I send an epidemic of sickness among my people; then, if my people, who bear my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. 

2 Chronicles 7:13-14

The pandemic, the election, the fear, none of these are a surprise to God. All of these are a result of actions we (mankind) have taken. That is these are all seeds we have planted and will reap a harvest of what we planted. If I plant a seed of hate, I will reap hate. A seed of deception, untruth, lies, will result in a harvest of the same. If I will plant seeds of justice, charity, and righteousness, I will reap those in my life. Not complicated just the way the world works. I believe that God is telling us to return to him and reap the blessing of his healing for our nation.

THE CALL

No matter what label is on the front of your church; Christian, Pentecostal, Jew, Catholic, or Methodist, you are reading the same Bible I am. I believe you are called to bear the name of the living God of heaven. I believe he is calling you to humble yourself, pray, seek his face and turn from your evil ways.  I believe that once we do this as a church, nation, as a people, he will heal our land.  This is the ONLY way we will see unity in these United States. So how can you pray in these times?  Here are a few ideas:

  1. “If my people who bear my name” Be called “God’s Child” not democrat, republican, white, black Methodist or catholic. (Revelation 7:9)
  2. “will humble themselves” acknowledge that you do not know how God will do it only that he will heal our land. (James 4:10)
  3. “Pray” pray without ceasing. Start just thanking God for the healing of our nation as often as you think about it.  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
  4. “Seek His face” not his hand.  Hear what God is saying more than looking for what he is doing. (Psalm 24:5-7)
  5. “Turn from your evil ways” Have no hate, only love. Stop judging others rather than love them a God does. Consider sin you have in your life and cut it out. (1 Samuel 12:20-25)
  6. Claim Psalm 20 – shout for victory

RSVP

This is an invitation to pray for the healing of our nation for 30 days. (Feb 14-Mar9) Turn from things that divide us and pray God’s plan because we are united under God. Let me know if you can / will answer this invitation. Reply on Facebook, email me at Chris@genesi2-24.net or comment on bogs at our website www.genesis2-24.net

Chris@genesis2-24.net

Chris attended Indiana University where he met and married Gay. He graduated with a BS in Elementary Education in 1980. In 1999 Chris and his wife Gay co-founded Genesis 2-24 Ministries in Seymour, Indiana where they currently live. Genesis 2:24 Ministries is a marriage ministry whose mission is to "Restore Marriage to the Honorable Place described in God’s Word". They do this through individual pre-marital and marital guidance, small group education and community events. Since the inception of the ministry they have seen God do miraculous things in the lives of the couples. We have noticed that few couples actually want to be divorced, they simply do not know how to live happily ever after. We want to provide ideas and tactics straight from the Bible that if applied will lead to marital bliss. We want nothing more than to see the Word "divorce" be taken out of our language. Chris Enjoys: reading (often with Gay) backpacking, fishing, playing guitar, riding the motorcycle (always with Gay) and playing with his grandson Lucas (the game doesn’t matter).