"If my people...." Many of us know that famous phrase as it begins a call to prayer from the mouth of God to Solomon just after he completed the building of the temple. The remainder of the section goes like this.... "....who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." I have always found it very direct that God begins his instruction with the word...if! That is always the telling word in any of our lives.....if. It is not enough to know that we are God's people who have even been called...but it comes back to us....you and me...and our decision to do something or just sit there. It would seem to me that as you read the verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14, you were likely surprised again by the conditions on the prayer and the great rewards. Direction like...humble themselves, pray, seek my face, turn from their wicked ways...are all the things we are supposed to do and then he states the rewards....forgiven of our sins, healing of the land. These are all good but it still rests on....If. Today we have called a day of fasting and prayer at McDermot. I have been praying since I got up that many people, including you, would respond to the invitation with a Yes! Yes I will step up and participate in this great invitation to connect with the Living God. Yes! I will follow the directions and humble myself and seek God and make an intentional decision to turn from the wicked things in my life and follow Jesus. Yes! Today I will be included in the few who do something with the invitation from God. Do it! Any my prayer for you is that you would encounter God in all His fullness and even if there is no great revelation of flash of lightening...you would be confident that he sees you, understands the intention of your heart, and delights in meeting your needs today. Physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
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