Pray- Heal Our Land (Part 2)

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. (2 Chr. 7:14 ESV).

Several weeks ago, I wrote that God is in Control.  I made the point that this does not mean that God is controlling.  In fact, He delegated the responsibility of the earth to us, as men and women:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Gen 1:26 ESV)

The heavens are the heavens of the Lord,
But the earth He has given to the sons of men. (Ps. 115:16 ESV)

God expects us to take an active role in determining the outcome of the circumstances that we face.  In the book of Exodus, Moses was up on a mountain, talking with God, for an extended period of time.  The children of Israel thought that he was gone for too long, and talked Aaron into making a golden calf for them to worship.  God told Moses what was happening, and that He was about to destroy Israel, and start over.

But Moses interceded with the Lord his God: “Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘He brought them out with an evil intent to kill them in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from Your great anger and relent concerning this disaster planned for Your people. Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—You swore to them by Your very self and declared, ‘I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and will give your offspring all this land that I have promised, and they will inherit it forever.’” So the Lord relented concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people. (Ex. 32:11-14 HCSB)

In this case, the circumstance was God’s judgment on Israel.  Even with that extreme circumstance, Moses was still able to influence the outcome through the power of prayer.

The New Testament tells us to pray not to just change our current circumstances.  Not just in a time of crisis.  Not just when we need something.  But always.  Continuously.

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints (Eph. 6:18 NASB)

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving (Col. 4:2 NASB)

pray without ceasing (1 Thes. 5:17 NASB)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6 NASB)

The book of Hebrews tells us how to approach prayer:

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16 ESV)

It is not a contradiction to say “humble yourself” and then to say, “pray with confidence” (some translations even say, “boldly.”)  We are to humble ourselves, but when we do approach the throne of God in prayer, we can be confident that He is who He has always claimed to be.  He will answer our prayers.  He will meet our needs.