Seek my face and turn

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 Chron: 7: 14

This is such a well known scripture and familiarity may mean that we read it and quote it without really thinking through the enormity of its meaning.

This is God’s promise to his people but it is dependent on their faithfulness and obedience.

We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. (1 Peter 2: 9) We are called by his name. This is us. Now.

What does it mean, to humble ourselves and pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways?

It means repentance.

We have the gift of time now in which to really cry out to God and repent on behalf of our nation. This nation has turned its face from God but we have an amazing opportunity to turn our faces towards him and intercede for others. There are so many areas that we can pray into. It will be different for each of us but we will all have experience of issues in our society and culture where we have fallen so far short of God’s plans for us.

If we’re faithful, his promise is that he will hear our prayer and heal our land.

You may want to listen to this song before you pray. We confess.

Father, we come to you on our knees to cry out to you and repent on behalf of this nation. Please show us how to pray. Reveal your Father heart to us, have mercy on us and heal this land.