Today’s Devotion
Topic: It’s Time to Pray
Text: 2 Chronicles 7: 14
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. Amen
Experiencing the intervention of God in any difficult situation is something everyone would gladly welcome. But the truth is that, His intervention is not automatic.
A renowned man of God once wrote that “God is limited to what He can do for humanity until somebody prays, and prayer is very crucial for daily triumph.” It is a partnership. Indeed, to engage God’s hand to turn situations in our favour, we MUST PRAY.
Today’s scripture outlines a few notable points as follows:
1) Effective prayer is done by people who are called by God’s name. It is those who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour who can stand in the gap and pray to see things turn around. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5: 4). Jesus again said in John 14: 13- 14, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
2) The people of God must come to the point of humility where they trust no one else but God to bring about the desired change. We must recognize Him as the source of every good and perfect gift we desire. “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18: 4).
Apostle Peter wrote in the 5th Chapter of his first epistle, the verse 5 and 6, saying: “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”
3) We must make conscious and deliberate efforts to pray and seek God’s face. We must not leave prayer to chance or leisure. 1 Chronicles 16: 11 says, “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually.” For “the Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men. To see if there are any who understand, who seek after God” (Psalm 14: 2). The Lord says in Proverbs 8: 17, “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.”
4) We can not expect God to visit us in our filth. We must, as a matter of urgency, turn from our wicked ways. It is sin that makes the arm of God appear to be too short and His ears deaf to hear us. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3: 19). Also you know that “whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28: 13).
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3: 9). The Lord says in Proverbs 1: 23, “repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. He also teaches in Luke 17: 3b- 4 that, “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”_
Beloved in Christ, when we practice the four steps above, the Almighty God who reigns in the affairs of men, promises to intervene from Heaven with forgiveness and healing for our lives, families and land.
Precious One, are you called by God’s name? Then stop complaining and begin to pray until you see a change in that uncomfortable situation. “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5: 15).
Dearly beloved, never cease praying after now. The Lord is not giving up on you either. He says: “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God” (Isaiah 62: 1-3). God bless you. See you at church. CLICK: https://youtu.be/b6TlHX205q4
(www.yonghana.org; Like our Facebook page: Y OUTREACH NETWORK)
