Turn, Seek, and Call
"We can either reap the reward or we can reap the consequences…the choice is ours."
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Reflection
We’re all familiar with conditional statements, even if we don’t know what they’re called. You’ll recall growing up hearing, or even telling your own kids, “If you clean your room, then you can go outside and play.” Or “If you do that again, then you’ll be sent to your room.” A conditional statement (also called an if-then statement) is a statement that expresses a condition. A condition is something that can only happen IF something else occurs.
In simpler terms, a conditional statement is an expectation; a promise that something is going to happen. That is powerful! Depending on the promise of the statement, it can give you a sense of fear, desire, or comfort.
Being the loving father God is, He clearly lays out what will happen IF we do what He asks. We can either reap the reward or we can reap the consequences…the choice is ours. I’ve had this same conversation with my own children when I see them contemplating how to proceed when a conditional statement is presented to them.
In today’s verse, God gives us four ‘IF’s’, in a specific order:
Busyness can get the best of me from time to time and unintentionally, I walk in the opposite direction of God. It’s during this time when feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and confusion take over. I do not like those feelings, and go to everyone around me for comfort when only God can fill me. Learning to recognize when this happens has been helpful. For me, I go outside, away from my house, saturating myself in His creation, where I’m reminded of His power and my dependence on Him. And when I humble myself, pray, seek Him, and turn away, He meets me there and I feel His presence once again.
Be encouraged that no matter how far you feel from God, IF you humble yourself, pray, seek, and turn away, THEN you, too, will be forgiven and your healing will begin.
Action Steps
Prayer
Lord, when I can’t feel Your presence, help me turn back toward You. Humble me by reminding me of Your blessings and recognizing my limitations. Forgive me, Lord, when I depend only on myself and I forget to seek You. It’s in Your presence that I am filled, and that’s where I want to remain. It is in Your precious name I pray, amen.
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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Reflection
We’re all familiar with conditional statements, even if we don’t know what they’re called. You’ll recall growing up hearing, or even telling your own kids, “If you clean your room, then you can go outside and play.” Or “If you do that again, then you’ll be sent to your room.” A conditional statement (also called an if-then statement) is a statement that expresses a condition. A condition is something that can only happen IF something else occurs.
In simpler terms, a conditional statement is an expectation; a promise that something is going to happen. That is powerful! Depending on the promise of the statement, it can give you a sense of fear, desire, or comfort.
Being the loving father God is, He clearly lays out what will happen IF we do what He asks. We can either reap the reward or we can reap the consequences…the choice is ours. I’ve had this same conversation with my own children when I see them contemplating how to proceed when a conditional statement is presented to them.
In today’s verse, God gives us four ‘IF’s’, in a specific order:
- Humble ourselves: How easily we forget His blessings and go our own way! Recognize your limitations and increase your dependence on God.
- Pray to God: Ask for His forgiveness and His guidance.
- Seek God’s face: God wants a relationship with you – don’t look to yourself, look to Him for all your needs!
- Turn away: Go a different direction, change your ways, and choose God’s presence!THEN…IF I do these things, I will be forgiven and my healing can begin.
Busyness can get the best of me from time to time and unintentionally, I walk in the opposite direction of God. It’s during this time when feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and confusion take over. I do not like those feelings, and go to everyone around me for comfort when only God can fill me. Learning to recognize when this happens has been helpful. For me, I go outside, away from my house, saturating myself in His creation, where I’m reminded of His power and my dependence on Him. And when I humble myself, pray, seek Him, and turn away, He meets me there and I feel His presence once again.
Be encouraged that no matter how far you feel from God, IF you humble yourself, pray, seek, and turn away, THEN you, too, will be forgiven and your healing will begin.
Action Steps
- Take time right now to pray. How far are you from God? Is He beside you, or are you having trouble finding Him?
- Find a quiet place and read over today’s verse again, humbling yourself, praying, and seeking God as you turn back to His presence.
Prayer
Lord, when I can’t feel Your presence, help me turn back toward You. Humble me by reminding me of Your blessings and recognizing my limitations. Forgive me, Lord, when I depend only on myself and I forget to seek You. It’s in Your presence that I am filled, and that’s where I want to remain. It is in Your precious name I pray, amen.
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