–2 Chronicles 7:14
This verse is familiar to most, and it is often stressed every 2-4 years in order to gather "praying people" together to supplicate God to grant our election requests. But are we truly acquainted with its meaning? Have the people of God truly sought His face and repented of “their sinful practices”?
Oh, it’s easy to list the sins of the nation, the wrongs of our neighbor or those across the aisle. But have we taken a strong look at ourselves in the mirror?
We vote pro-life, but are we on our knees in grief (Lev 20:4-5) over the millions of God’s blessings (Psa 127:3), His children (Eze 16:21-22) whom He carefully crafted (Psa 139:13-15), which have been sacrificed on the altar of the American dream (Jam 4:2)? Foster care is overrun with orphans, with “unwanted” kids who are “too much trouble.” Where is the church? If only one family from every church in America would take in a child, there would be no kids in the system. But we are too selfish, too in love with our own comfort and kingdom to heed the call to sacrifice and practice true religion (Luke 14:26-27; Jam 1:27). Oh, God, help us!
We get angry at the homosexual agenda that is taking over media and political platforms in order to systematically indoctrinate the culture. But have we purged pornography, lust, and adultery from our midst (Mat 5:28-30)? We keep quiet our marital strife, and let Satan wreak havoc on our households while we are busy putting on a good face, numbing our pain with busy schedules and bowing down before the idols we call spouses until they crumble (Mat 23:27-28; Col 3:18-19). Oh, God, help us!
We seek to limit the influence of Islam and pagan religions, but we worship sports and food and entertainment (Phi 3:19). We get more excited at football games than in our holy assemblies (Mat 15:8). We memorize athletic stats, but have no room for Holy Scriptures (Rom 8:5). We gorge ourselves with food and waste our physical health on tasty treats and convenient snacks, yet we do not hunger for righteousness (Mat 5:6). We squander all our leisure time with amusement, distracting our minds and filling our ears so we don’t hear of the sufferings of this world and contemplate God’s command to “Go” (Mat 28:19; 1Pe 4:1-2). Oh, God, help us!
We lament the indoctrination of our children, how evolution is so assumed in our culture and that prayer has been banished from schools. Yet, are we praying for them? We have divorced Jesus from truth, and taught morality rather than Gospel. We have taught our children that they can be whatever they desire, instead of helping them discover God’s calling (Jam 4:13-16; Luke 9:24-25). We tell them that building wealth is the way to happiness, instead of building upon the foundation of Christ and His promises (1Co 3:12-13). We tell them that getting good grades in school comes first, and so neglect the study of the only book that matters (Ecc 12:12-13). Oh, God, help us!
We draw attention to entitlement programs and how they defy fiscal responsibility, and we demand that our leaders notice how excessive spending will eventually lead our country to economic ruin. Yet we still seek tax cuts that pad our own pockets, and selfishly squander God's resources that He earmarked for the building of His Kingdom (Mat 6:33; 25:4-30; 1Pe 4:10), proving that we ourselves are lousy stewards. We think mostly of ourselves, and care little about the homeless and poor to whom God told us to tend (Deu 24:19-21). Oh, God, help us!
We criticize the corruption of the national press, but do we care enough about facts to check them? Or are we too devoted to our own opinions to be challenged (Pro 16:25; 18:17)? We get defensive when someone criticizes our party leader, and we speak out boldly when the opposition is heralded as savior. Yet we stay silent to the lies that unfairly demonize our opponents or unfairly exalt our platform leaders as long as it advances our positions. Are we not showing that we care little for the Truth? Does not this inhibit us from actively proclaiming Him (John 14:6)? Oh, God, help us!
Our country thinks we have no need for God. WE think we have little need. I think I have little need, because that’s what I demonstrate in how little I pray and in how lackluster my worship.
Oh, God, break me. Tear me down and make me a humble vessel of Your kingdom. Make me averse to the opulence of this world, and eager to feel the blessings of suffering (Phi 1:29), finding comfort in the faithful wounds (Pro 27:6) and kind correction of your rod and staff (Psa 23:4). Tear down my misguided perception and passion (Rom 10:2; Pro 19:2). Rid me of the teachings of men (Mark 7:7) and let me hold fast to the Truth (Pro 4:4; Phi 2:16; Heb 10:23). Help me to abandon sight and walk only by faith (2Co 5:7). Oh, Father, help me!
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