Seek His Face!

2 Chronicles 7:12-16 (King James Version)
12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
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.
15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

I don’t know why, but I always thought these verses were for the sinner to come to the Lord; however in discussing them Tuesday evening at a ladies meeting at my church, a woman brought out that they were written for the Christians. That almost blew me away. I don’t know if I have had my head in the sand like the ostrich or have on rose colored glasses, but I never thought about Christian’s having wicked ways.

God tells Solomon that there are four things in verse 14 that are REQUIRED in order for Him to hear their prayers.
1. Humble (feeling or showing respect and deference toward other people) yourself.
2. Pray
3. Seek His face
4. Turn from their wicked ways
Then He will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.
I believe verse 15 gives us His promise. He says His eyes shall be open, and His ears attuned to our prayer.

Christians in America (and the world) need to get these verses down into their very spirit. They need to begin to act on them. If we want a change in our schools, our kids, and neighbors, I believe this is the answer. Get the sin and crud out of our life that is hindering our communication with the Father. Then He will be able to do that which He promised.