If, Then: God’s Conditional Promises

ID 14856386 © Robyn Mackenzie | Dreamstime.com

Second Chronicles 7:13-14 springs from everyone’s lips these days:

 If I [God] shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked waysthen I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NIV)

Note, it’s a conditional promise:

  • If My people will: humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
  • Then I [God] will: hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Humble yourself: If you’re prone to control-freakish-ness (like me), we stand helpless before the pandemic. We can and should follow protective measures, but control? Yeah, no. We must look to Someone all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever-present. 

Pray: If we ever wanted to practice praying without ceasing, now is our time. And there are lots of ways to do it. Pray Scripture. Pray through worship and song. Pray together. Pray for our neighborhoods as we walk. Just pray. 

Seek His face: Have some extra time? Be intentional. Let’s turn from Facebook, Netflix, and our latest read and turn to Him. Listen to sermons or podcasts. Start a Bible study. Ask Him to reveal Himself in the midst of this pandemic. Make time for Him. Get in His Word. 

Turn from their wicked ways: Lately, I’ve confessed more sin than I thought possible. God began cleaning house in January. Deep cleaning. I’ve found His conviction to be spot on—and very gentle. I grew up believing God was harsh. He is anything but. He is specific. He is patient. He is forgiving. However, He won’t allow us to wink at sin. It hurts me too much. 

And it’s hurting you too. 

So, let’s ask Him to reveal it. Drag it into the light and confess it. Then, turn from it. Put it behind us and move forward with Him. Satan condemns. Let’s tune our ears to God’s gentle conviction. 

Then.

Then, the healing will come. 

Workout for the Week: If, Then: God’s Conditional Promises

Memory Verse: If I [God] shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and 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, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NIV

Meditation Passage: 2 Chronicles 7

Do It: Confess some sin this week.

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