Transformation

"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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. "  2 Chronicles 7:14

It's a passage that is used and quoted over and over in our day.  We see the condition of our world and the depths to which some of our leaders have lowered themselves, and we need biblical instruction on how to deal with it.  Usually such a search will take us to the above verse. The really tough part is that we see the need for change in the lives of our leaders, while failing to see the need for change in us.

  

The verse from 2 Chronicles isn't about everyone needing to change except me, it is about all people, called by God's name, seeking him and turning from sin.  It's about a spiritual transformation.  The transforming process isn't always easy, and there are bound to be obstacles which continually hinder us. The difficulty of changing, nor the effort to overcome adversity should cause us to go down in defeat.  Look closely at the verse again, and especially how there is part of it that shows our responsibility, and the other part which shows God's promise.

If my people will........................ then I will..................   It gets no clearer than that. God is telling us if we want a renewal and revival, we must be humble, pray, seek him, and turn from sin.  The he is going  to hear us, forgive us, and heal our land.  It may surprise you, but there are countless promises of God in the Bible that are given in that same format. There may be parts of the Bible that are difficult to understand, but promises like this one are crystal clear.

Today, with this promise in mind, I would suggest several directions we could take in our prayers.  You may either focus on one or two, or perhaps you wish to prayerfully consider them all.

1. Seek God's forgiveness for the way we have hindered him through our unbelief of his promises.

2. Give thanks to God for his willingness and promise to heal our land, and bring us individually and collectively into his forgiveness.

3. Seek God's blessings on our church leaders that they may direct us in paths of transforming grace.

4. Pledge yourself to do what God asks in the 2 Chronicles passage.

5. Pray that God will remove the barriers that divide us.

6. Give thanks to God.  He wants you changed into the likeness of Jesus. He longs to heal our land.

Also today, please consider Paul's admonition in Romans 12:1-2.  ^" Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

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