“Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 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.”
2 Chronicles 7:12-14 NLT
In 85 days our country will vote for our new leaders. No matter your political pedigree, you must know that our country is in trouble. The policies purveyed by many of our leaders seem to be a roadmap for complete upheaval and a further move away from the Judeo-Christian values that underpinned our original establishment. Even now, policies poking a finger in the eye of the Lord are enshrined in some of the laws of our land.
Now, although critical discussion and thought sharing can be helpful, arguing, finger-pointing, and “gotcha” maneuvers, will not restore our country’s peace, security, and the favor of God.
The only real hope for America is to be found in repentance before God. And, whereas a corporate repentance is certainly warranted, our days of repentance will be concerning very specific ways in which we have all—at some point—failed to do what is pleasing to the Lord. Only after these personal cries for forgiveness will we turn to asking God’s forgiveness concerning specific sins of our country.
After all the celebrations involved in the dedication of the temple Solomon had built for the Lord, the Lord appeared to him and gave him the instruction and the promise we see in our opening scripture.
You see, the Lord made it clear to Solomon that if they strayed from obedience to Him, He would withhold His blessings and His favor. Knowing that the people would fail, the Lord also instructed Solomon that God‘s protection, God’s favor, God‘s blessings, could only be restored through true repentance. That is, if the people expressed heartfelt sorrow for their sins and turned from those sins back to Him, then the Lord would restore their place of favor before Him.
Please join us as we repent before the Lord over these next weeks until the 2024 presidential election.
Indeed, repentance should be a lifestyle and must never be confused with a constant state of remorse. Truly, repentance brings freedom, true freedom, from the world, the flesh, and the devil, as we appropriate the work of the Cross of Christ for forgiveness, correction, and restoration for ourselves, as well as for our country.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
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