WHEN DOES GOD SAY HE WILL HEAL OUR LAND?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.
(Lamentations 3:40)

MEDITATION:
If we conducted a survey, more than likely most of us would
agree that many people of the world are not being drawn
toward God, but instead, are being lured by the things of
the world.

What causes us to gravitate toward worldly things instead of
Godliness? I guess there could be many reasons, but it could
be our desire to ‘see’ things is greater than our desire to ‘feel’
things. Therein is the struggle for mankind. The things are
‘visible’ doesn’t require faith; faith requires a belief and trust
in the ‘invisible’.
    So we fix our eyes not on what is seen,
    but on what is unseen, since what is
    seen is temporary, but what is unseen
    is eternal.
    (2 Corinthians 4:18)

When we think about mankind’s inner struggle, visualize mankind in
between two magnets; one is God and the other is the world (Satan’s
domain).
    Whenever we pass the midpoint between the two, our attraction
    to the closest one gets stronger. If we are moving toward God, we
    develop a desire to get closer to Him. On the other hand, if we are
    moving toward the world, then we find ourselves on a slippery
    slope toward destruction.

Our modern-day philosophy of self-reliance and self-sufficiency
has caused many to believe they can do just fine without God.
Some suggest:
    “Religion may be okay for certain emotional people,
      but nothing beats believing in oneself.”

How has that worked out for our world? This self-confident generation
has produced more alcoholics, more dope addicts, more criminals, more
wars, more broken homes, more assaults, more embezzlements, more
murders, and more suicides than any other generation that ever lived.

Confidence in doing a good job is not a bad thing, but when it comes to
resisting the worldly things and gravitating toward God, we should have
less confidence in ourselves, and develop more trust and faith in God.
God wants our ‘dependence’ and not our ‘independence’.

During bad times, some people like to point to the following scripture:
    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.
    (2 Chronicles 7:14)

When we read this scripture verse, we need to understand:
    This is not a plea for revival of the unsaved,
    the scripture is speaking directly to believers.
    God is speaking to…
        ‘His people’ – ‘those who are called by His name’
    He is speaking to those who claim to have a faith in God
    and are fully committed to Him. These are the ones God
    says should…
        ‘humble themselves’

We might think that followers of Jesus are humble, but there is
always a risk of believers sometimes becoming so proud of their
faith that they rationalize their sinful actions (or inactions) that
are violations of God’s commands.

These justifications indicate that Satan has gained a foothold in
our lives which can take us deeper into a sinful rut that becomes
a stronghold for the evil one. When that happens, Satan celebrates
and we suffer the consequences.

This is not a new tactic for Satan; we can see it in action in the
Garden of Eden as he persuaded Eve to question God’s command
so she could fulfill her desire for what God said is not permissible.
    Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the
    wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to
    the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not
    eat from any tree in the garden’?”
    (Genesis 3:1)

As believers, we must guard against developing an arrogant attitude
that causes us to believe we are better than others. Why? Because we
are not! We are all sinners, but the believers are those who have chosen
to place their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

God tells all believers to ‘pray’ and ‘seek His face’. We need to pray
for others, but we also need to pray for ourselves. Believers should
be praying for God’s guidance to help them…
    ‘turn from their wicked ways’

It’s easy to pray outwardly for the sins of others, but it can be a
challenge to pray inwardly and admit that we have sins in our
own lives; and then pray for forgiveness. God tells us He will
‘hear from Heaven and forgive the sins’ of believers. Then, and
only then, will He intervene and ‘heal our land’.

It is a call for believers to honestly evaluate their failures, blunders,
and costly mistakes. If we expect God to heal our land, it is up to the
people of faith to repent and rededicate their lives, and not a result of
lost people praying for salvation for themselves. God promises to heal
our land when ‘believers’ respond to His instructions.

We don’t know how many believers need to obey God’s command
in 2 Chronicles 7:14, before He will heal our land. But if we are
part of His family, we know we have a responsibility to be obedient
to Him. And, if there aren’t enough obeying for God to heal our land,
we will benefit individually, because we have grown closer to the Lord.

ACTION:
Questions to consider
    – Have you evaluated your faith lately?
    – How does your faith today compare with the faith you
       had when you initially received salvation from the Lord?
           Do you still have the same zest and enthusiasm
           for God that you once had, or have you allowed
           the ‘ways of the world’ to numb your desire to
           know Him better?
    – How much time do you spend with God through prayer,
       bible reading, and worship?
    – Are there any sins in your life that you have justified
       as permissible? Remember, if it is something debatable,
       it is probably the Holy Spirit alerting you that it is not
       something God expects of those who are in His family.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, as I examine my heart, I see too much
selfishness there. I acknowledge my sins and ask for Your
forgiveness. Develop a humble heart in me that will pray,
turn from my wicked ways, and return to you, so You will
heal our land. Impress on me the importance of realizing
Your command is speaking directly to me. Prevent me
from comparing myself to other believers, but honestly
evaluating my relationship with You. Lord. I place my
confidence and trust in You and not in myself.”

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