What is your daily routine? Do you seek God, praise Him, and give thanks for His blessings? Do you ask for His will to be done, rather than your own? Do you recall your sins and ask to be forgiven?

Recently many have called for prayer. Trouble has come. Their days have grown dark. They do not have what they want. They turn to prayer as a last resort, quoting a Scripture they do not understand.

If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.¹

What God required to heal their land.

This passage was not for everyone, only the Israelites, and God required 3 things of them.

Be humble. More than humility, this was complete submission…to obey God and do what He told them to do.

Pray and seek My face. God did not want a casual relationship. He told them to reach out, talk with Him, and seek His Face…to come and be in His presence.

Turn from your evil ways. God wanted them to admit and reject their sinful life, no longer acting as others acted or working for what others claimed was important…to be examples of God who has compassion for His people.

What God requires of us to heal our own.

This passage remains important, but not to judge or condemn, as some have used it. This is not about a “them” who have sinned against God. It is about the “us” who have sinned against God…who have only a casual relationship with Him.

This is about ALL of God’s people. Every day He wants us to do what He has told us to do…talk with Him and be in His presence…and love and encourage others…NEVER to hate, demean, or tear down. How are you doing with that?

With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.² You see, it’s about God moving in us to love others, even our enemies, so they will know who we follow and may come to know Him, too. Nothing is more important!

 

Ciloa Forever!

Chuck

 

Chuck Graham is Founder and Executive Director of Ciloa, an international ministry devoted to encouraging others and teaching them how to encourage one another. Also an author and speaker, Chuck and his wife, Beverly, live in Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA. Learn more about Chuck and Ciloa at www.Ciloa.org.

 

Scripture: (1) 2 Chronicles 7:14. (2) Matthew 19:26.
 
Pictures: Banner Shot: Drought, Pixabay. (1) .