“If my people who are called by my Name 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 ESV
I am currently doing a Bible study by Anne Graham Lotz called “The Daniel Prayer – prayer that moves heaven and changes nations.” Seems pretty fitting for this forty days of praying for America, so I thought I would share today’s lesson from Anne’s teaching from pages 61 – 62 of the chapter “Compelled to Pray”.
“One promise for our nation that has been prayed frequently comes from 2 Chronicles 7:13 – 15. If a promise could be worn out from use, this one might be tattered beyond recognition. But promises cannot be word out. They are just as valid today as when they were first issued. They are like gold. They don’t even tarnish. In fact, the more we claim them, the more they seem to “glow” with even greater meaning. Then why has this one not made more of a difference in our nation? Could it be that while we eagerly claim the promise of God hearing our payer and forgiving our sin and healing our land, we have given little attention to the condition attached to it? And what is the condition? We must humble ourselves. Pray. Seek God’s face. And turn from our wicked ways.
What difference would it make if we claimed this promise while also meeting the condition for receiving it? Like Daniel, I want to find out. So with the condition in mind, let’s take a moment and pray 2 Chronicles 7:13 -15 together:
Lord of mercy, God of grace, hear us as we pray. You have promised that when environmental disasters erupt, or the enemy strikes, or illnesses break out, that if we…Your people who call ourselves by Your Name…the Church…Christ – followers…if we would set aside our pride and our self – righteousness and judgmental finger – pointing, make the time to get alone with You and pray, seeking not just a political solution, but Your face, turning from our own grievous sin, then Heaven would be moved! Sin would be forgiven! Hearts would be changed! And you would bless our land! So now we humbly confess to You our sin of _______, and _______, and _______. We name it for what it is in Your sight, and choose to put it out of our lives. Our of our minds. Our of our hearts. To turn away from it. We ask You to cleanse us with the blood of Your Son and our Savior. Hear our prayer. Forgive us our sin. Now, we ask, please. Open Your eyes to our beloved nation. Answer us according to Your Word, for the glory of Your Name. Amen“
Thank you Anne Graham Lotz, for these words of direction in praying for America.
Heart Notes of Life 