Prayer That Changes Things

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. (‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14-16‬ NLT)

As I read and re-read this very famous passage of scripture here is what I heard the Lord told me this morning.

He reminded me that you and I are now the temple of the Lord.  The temple is being dedicated.  Solomon has given an amazing sacrifice to the Lord, offered a very sincere and earnest prayer to the Lord, and led the people to place of repentance, prayer, and praise.  Then the Lord gives this instruction.

If we, who are called by His name.

That is anyone who is a servant of God in Heaven, and has made Jesus Christ their personal Savior.

Will humble themselves and pray.

Will seek His face.

Will turn from their wicked ways.

He will hear us in heaven.

He will forgive our sins.

He will restore our land.

His eyes will be open.

His ears will be attentive to every prayer.

For He has chosen us.

He has set us apart.

We are to honor Him.

And He will watch over us.

Because we are dear to His heart.

This great, mushy, and I love it.  What I am hearing is this.  I really acknowledge that our nation needs the Lord.  We need significant change in many areas.  Many are right now praying for our Supreme Court as they hear the arguments about the sanctity of marriage.  In reading this, I wonder if we are going about this all wrong.  Should we pray for them?  Yes, absolutely!  However, the prayer that causes change is the prayer of repentance by His people. His chosen vessels.  This is the prayer that does all the amazing things listed in this wonderful passage of scripture!

So, let me one of hopefully millions.  Who will fall on their face before the Lord, repent of sin, and ask for forgiveness.

Will I/Am I forgiven of my sin?  According to Grace- yes, absolutely! At the same time, I want to be obedient to the command of scripture, and I want to see our nation changed!

Will you join me?

Greed or Pride Which is Better?

And all the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage. Then the king’s servants who were within the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?”

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai.

If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” (‭Esther‬ ‭3‬:‭2-3, 5-6, 9‬ NKJV)

Pride and Greed are ugly personality traits!

Do Not Do These Two Things…EVER

‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your disdain for the land of Israel, (Ammon)

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Look! The house of Judah is like all the nations,’ (Moab)

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,” (Edomite)

‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,” (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭25‬:‭6, 8, 12, 15‬ NKJV) (Philistia)

“Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken who was the gateway of the peoples; now she is turned over to me; I shall be filled; she is laid waste.’ (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭26‬:‭2‬ NKJV) (Tyre)

“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because your heart is lifted up, And you say, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas,’ Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭28‬:‭2‬ NKJV) (King of Tyre)

Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies in the midst of his rivers, Who has said, ‘My River is my own; I have made it for myself.’ (‭Ezekiel‬ ‭29‬:‭3‬ NKJV) (Egypt)

Pride and not standing with Israel will always leave a mark or lack there of.