Shawn-Ta Wilson Asks, Heal our Land, Lord!
2 Chronicles 7:14
“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 sins, and will heal their land.”
I was reminded of this scripture last night as I was thinking about how wounded our nation is right now and the healing it needs. This is one of the scriptures being referenced quite a bit right now. In general, it is given out as a reminder that “if we pray then God will heal our land”, and I certainly do believe in the power of prayer. Prayer is desperately needed. However, I feel I had more revelation about the scripture drop into my spirit last night. It calls for us to recognize we have additional duties other than prayer.
IF
God is letting us know right from the start that this will be a two way street. ‘If’ implies there will be a reaction to an action. ‘If’ alludes to the fact that we will have to do something in order to get what we are asking for from Him. If we are not willing to do our part, the deal is off and He is no longer obligated to do His. Yet it also suggests that if we do, He will!
HUMBLE
Jesus, this is something we all need a little more of. We live in such a time where everything is about us and what we want. Humility by
definition means a modest or low view of one’s own importance. Our view, our opinion, our beliefs do not override those of the next person when we are humble. Humbling ourselves enough to submit to God’s way and His will is necessary in order to co-exist humbling with our fellow man.
The opposite of humility if pride. Scripture is clear on pride. Proverbs 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes shame, but with the lowly is wisdom.”
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty (arrogantly superior and disdainful) spirit before a fall.”
I hope I can safely say there is not one person that would say they do not want to be wise. The challenge for most is humbling ourselves enough to get there. The reality is, it’s hard! The issues facing our country right now are, without exaggeration, life threatening. Our human nature is to defend and protect but that’s not what God is calling us to do in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
SEEK MY FACE
My God did these three words jump out at me last night like never before! Seek His face, God’s face! So many are seeking to be right, seeking to be heard, and seeking platforms to promote their own opinions. I understood the frustration behind it all. But our way is not working. We have to seek the face of God in every situation to know, comprehend, and do His will. 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us there will be a benefit (healing our land) in doing this and so does Proverbs 16:7 which reads, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he will makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Isn’t that the bottom line of what we all truly want…peace?
FORGIVE THEIR SINS
I’ve quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 many times yet, somehow, these few words seemed to have been overlooked; “…and will forgive their sins…” Oh what an awakening I received from the Holy Spirit last night!
None of us is without sin. Even with the best of intentions right now, we’ve all been guilty of a couple particular sins:
Judgment
We are all judging one another based on our views and opinions. Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Just as we don’t understand the mindset of some people, they don’t understand ours either. Judging one another not only gets us nowhere as a nation, it puts us in jeopardy with God.
Confusion
So many are fostering confusion by forcing their views and opinions on those who do not wish to hear them. 1 Corinthians 14:33 reminds us that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace…”
The more we force, the less they hear and understand. The root issue is then lost in confusion.
We must be really careful of the confusion we generate. God is not in confusion so it is likely we may be driven to create it by the enemy. Please know that the enemy is crafty and we can be used to further his goal without even realizing it. He will sit on our shoulder and whisper in our ear to “tell them what’s right; tell them why they are wrong.”
The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Look around and see what’s happening. Our hope for peace and understanding is dying because our vast differences are being magnified right now. Some days it seems our joy in being a proud American has been stolen. The foundation of our security we once felt as Americans is being destroyed. That’s the enemy folks; please see it for what it is!
HEAL
For the first time ever, I shed a tear last night when I read this word in the scripture. Everything in me is grieving right now for the wounded country we all love so much. It is indeed in need of healing. I will not profess to know how we will get there (to a healed condition). I have questions and concerns just like everyone else. What I do know is that God has promised that IF we do as He has asked in 2 Chronicles 7:14, He WILL heal our land.
God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19) so I will do my part for the United States of America and wait for Him to do his part to fulfill 2 Chronicles 7:14. I will humble myself. I will pray. I will seek God’s face. I will turn from my wicked ways.
My heartfelt desire is that you will, too!
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