“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.” II
Chronicles 7:14
Let’s
get more specific with the “ifs” and “thens” of this great promise from God to
His people!
There
are three “ifs” God requires of His people in order to enjoy His four “thens”.
Let’s review them together!
“if my people, who are called by my
name, will HUMBLE themselves”
Humility
is a natural and appropriate response when His people remember who He is and
who they are. He is THE Holy, Righteous, Almighty, Everlasting, All-Wise, Ever
Present God of the universe and you are a fallen, flawed, arrogant,
self-centered, sinful wretch. It is only His grace that has kept you from being
destroyed and sent to a horrific hell for eternity.
If
you have trouble humbling yourself before God you may have lost touch with the
reality of Who He is and who you are. When you put Him in His rightful place it
will put you in your proper realization and that should put you on your face
before God.
“…if
my people…..PRAY….”
God’s
people, the people who are called by His Name, are people who pray!
Prayer
is how His people talk to Him and hear from Him and involve Him in their daily
lives.
How
can you be in a relationship with someone, especially someone as significant as
God, unless you often pray?
“….if
my people…..SEEK MY FACE….”
God’s
people humble themselves.
God’s
people pray.
God’s
people seek His face.
What
does it mean to seek His face?
It
means to prepare your heart so you are able to come into His presence and find
His pleasure. When you want to establish intimacy with someone you must look
into his face. That’s the great desire of those who are called by His Name!
“….if
my people….TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS….”
You
cannot bring your sinful attitudes and desires into the presence of God. To
call upon Him and seek His face requires confession of sins and turning from
sinful practices.
Repentance
is the evidence of a deep and sincere sorrow over the sinfulness of your heart
and the evil that results from that. Repentance is an intention to turn away
from those sins and call upon God to change your heart and your mind.
IF you will do these four things He
desires, these four things that will allow you to have an intimate relationship
with Him, THEN He will keep His promises!
It’s
your move!