| “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 |
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| A RECIPE for REVIVAL While 2 Chronicles 7:14 is very much a verse that speaks to the nation of Israel it offers a recipe for personal revival. As we are prone to wander from the God we love, we also have an invitation to return to Him where He receives us and restores us. For this return to happen there will need to be several changes beginning with one humbling themselves. This mindset moves one from arrogance and pride, a spirit of I am right, and I know it all, to now acknowledging that God is right. The ultimate acknowledgment is that YOU ARE NOT GOD, HE IS GOD, and GOD ALONE. For one to return to God and His paths of righteousness one will need to repent. Repenting means one is acknowledging they are WRONG. To admit one is wrong calls for one to humble themselves. From humbling oneself one now prays. Why is this significant? It means one is moving from independence of God to dependence on God. Now the returner seeks God’s face. To seek His face means one wants to know God. To seek and see His face brings about WORSHIP! The returner now offers praise to God. Seeking the face of God also brings about a fresh awareness of our sinfulness that sparks a desire to turn from our wicked ways. Seeking and seeing His face brings about a fresh view of God’s holiness and in seeing God’s holiness one is going to want to renounce wickedness. As the prophet Isaiah sees God and hears the worship of HOLY HOLY HOLY he not only confessed his sin but within the confession was a desire to be cleansed. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is laying out for us the ability to experience personal revival. The believer now walks humbly with God, depending on the Lord, seeking His face, and departing from sin. in doing this one becomes a useful vessel that is desiring to be used by God. Are you in need of a personal revival? Are you away from God? Are you filled with arrogance and pride where you hold a view that you know better than God? Are you seeking your own agenda? Are you practicing wickedness? Put into action 2 Chronicles 7:14 and God will forgive you and restore you! Verse to DATE the Word on July 14 (7/14) is 2 Chronicles 7:14. It says, “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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Personal note: As I grew up our church would have “revival” services each summer. I knew that there would be two songs sung each night. Revive Us Again before the preaching and Have Thine Own Way after the preaching. Maybe I simplify it too much but a take on 2 Chronicles 7:14 is LORD, HAVE THINE OWN WAY with me. |