Praying for our Nation

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you will as well.

We are down to five days until our nation elects her next President. It is one of most important elections in the history of the USA. It is so important that God's people first of all, pray. And secondly, vote for Biblical principles. In 2 Chronicles 7:14-15, God tells us what will happen when His people pray for their nation. Let's look at it together.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 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. (15) Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

In 1861 a noted chess master named Paul Morphy attended a dinner party in Richmond, Virginia. It is reported that during the dinner his attention was drawn to a painting on the wall. The scene portrayed a young man locked in an intense chess match with the devil. The devil's next move would surely claim victory - entitling him to the young man's soul. The devil wore a triumphant expression. After dinner the chess champion walked over to the painting, studying the board and the pieces portrayed on it. Suddenly he turned to his host and said, "I can take the young man's game and win!" "That's not possible!" his host replied. "Not even you can retrieve that game." The chess master answered, "Yes, I think I can. Suppose we place the men and give it a try." To the surprise of everyone Morphy bested the smug opponent in the painting. Victory was snatched from the devil and the young man was saved.

Sometimes we feel like that young man. We see Satan poised to claim victory. We feel something near despair as we watch our nation make wrong turn after wrong turn. Yet in the darkest moment God whispers, "I have good news for you. He hasn't won yet. If my people who are called by my name are sorry for what they have done, if they pray and obey me and stop their evil ways, I will hear them from Heaven, I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land."

God gets the final move. And we can urge Him to take it - when we pray!

Then will I… heal their land.

Solomon's temple was finally complete. The work of 70,000 labourers, 80,000 stone cutters, and 3,600 foremen-finished. Pure gold covered parts of the interior. Precious inlaid stones sparkled. The Ark of the Covenant inhabited the Holy of Holies. Only the presence of God was missing. So Solomon prays "Arise, O Lord God, to Your resting place" (2 Chronicles 6:41 NJKV).

And how did God respond? "And the glory of the Lord filled the temple" (2 Chronicles 7:1 NIV). The people fell on their faces declaring, "He is good; His love endures forever" (2 Chronicles 7:3 NIV). After 15 days of celebration Solomon retreated to his palace.

But God wasn't finished speaking. God knows our tendency to forget His blessings and go our own way. Look around you. The conditions that preceded the fall of every great civilization are in place. Can our country be saved? Yes! By whom? God said:

(1) "If my people, who are called by My name." We must turn from self-promotion to God promotion.
(2) "Will humble themselves and pray." We must turn from self-reliance to God reliance.
(3) "And seek My face." We must turn from self-direction to God direction.
(4) "And turn from their wicked ways." We must turn from self-indulgence to self-examination. When will God heal our land? When His people turn back to Him!

If the terrain tells you you've made a wrong turn, it's time to make a right one. As a country we've been traveling through some rough terrain. And it's getting rougher every day. What can be done? God's people can turn it around! And that turn begins with - you and me! Blessings.

Pastor Rusty