Every Sunday, an important part of our service is our prayer list. At the end of the prayer list, we always quote from 2 Chronicles 7:14:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

In this verse, we see the response of the Lord to Solomon after the dedication of the Temple. While the “people” at the time were the Israelites, we who are called “Christians” are also God’s people today. Therefore, this verse applies to us.

I was thinking about this verse because of something Solomon prayed while he was dedicating the Temple to the Lord.

What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: (1 Kings 8:38 KJV).

Solomon was talking about times of famine and plague and what stands out to me in this verse is that anyone could lift up a prayer to the Lord. In 1 Kings 8:41-43 Solomon mentions the foreigner “who does not belong to your people Israel” coming before the Lord in prayer (1 Kings 8:41 NIV). Solomon asks the Lord to “Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name” (1 Kings 43 NIV).

After Solomon prayed to the Lord, he turned to the nation of Israel and said, “May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors” (1 Kings 8:58 NIV). This verse reminded me of something Jesus said in John:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

John 6:44 (NIV)

Basically, no one can come to know God unless God wants them to know him. This means that we are only saved because God drew us to him. It’s nothing that we did on our own. 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God’s desire isn’t for anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. While Peter may have been writing to saved people, this still applies to the character of God.

I know that there are people who aren’t Christians who pray. There’s a lot of debate over whether or not God hears the prayers of sinners (unsaved people). As Christians, we are to pray for other people. Both the saved and unsaved. We know God hears our prayers. As Christians, when the land suffers, we suffer with it. In California, we’re in a drought that’s not been getting any better. I know that this impacts everyone here. Saved and unsaved. I’m certain some people aren’t saved who are praying. Some to God and others to things that aren’t God.

In the last couple of years, we’ve all suffered from COVID. Again, I believe that there have been people who have prayed who don’t know God, along with those who do.

Let’s consider 2 Chronicles 7:14 again.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

This verse tells me that the people of God need to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from sin if we want God to heal our land. I think it’s time we pray to the Lord. We need to pray that our nations be healed. However, for our nations to be healed, we need to turn away from all of the petty things that divide us as humans and seek the Lord’s face for those who do not yet know him. While praying for our land isn’t a bad thing, this land will pass away, but the souls of those in the land will not. It’s just that some will go on to glory while others to damnation.

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, be free from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation today:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe that you died on the cross, were buried, and on the third day, God the Father raised you from the dead. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart, and I receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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