Merciful Monday: Are You In?

As we have often discussed in our posts based off of earlier sections of the Old Testament, God makes promises to his people. These promises are continually mentioned throughout the Bible in similar fashion. In my opinion this is because God wants us to truly see how great our lives can be if we serve Him.

Our reading in 2 Chronicles explains yet another promise that is available to all believers, and it is one that is particularly dear to my heart. It reads: “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” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

For this promise in particular God uses a predictive conditional or “If, then” statement. A predictive conditional statement has two clauses, the “if” clause and the “then” clause—the “if” clause is the condition, while the “then” clause is the consequence, telling us what will happen in the future if the condition is fulfilled. God is telling us point blank what we can receive for him if we commit ourselves to serving him.

IF WE:

1. humble ourselves
• acknowledge, recognize, and admit that you need God in your life
• stop making everything about you
• change your mind set from one of self-interest to one of compassion for others
2. pray and seek God’s face
• create a clean slate by asking God for forgiveness (this also requires forgiving others that we feel have wronged us)
• aim for your relationship with God to grow (you should be all up in his face!)
• learn of God through speaking with him
• pray for those that do not know God
3. turn from our wicked ways
• after you repent, stop doing what you used do (it’s easier said than done, but if you follow the first two steps, it will come easier because God will give you the strength to turn away from temptation)
• thirst after righteousness rather than your own desires

THEN GOD WILL:

1. hear from Heaven
• the Bible tells us that God will listen to our prayers
• Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:2
• This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1 John 5:14
• Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24
2. forgive your sin
• Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins. Our sins are covered by the blood he shed when he died on the cross. So now once we seek forgiveness, God freely gives it
• Once we forgive others, God is able to forgive us. "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25
•  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:19
3. heal your land
• God will relieve the pain and heal even your deepest wounds (those tough times you have had in life that have deeply scarred you)
• God will bless your house
• God will give you peace

Throughout the Bible, God always communicates his desire to listen, forgive, and heal us, as these are often the things we want most as humans. Still, it is up to us to take up his invitation. It is like God is inviting us to this amazing party! He is willing to give us everlasting life, but we have to work for it because nothing in life is free except God’s love (against such there is no law. Galatians 5:23). So don’t miss out on receiving the benefits of God’s promise because you are unwilling to heed his conditions. I'M IN!.... ARE YOU?

Merciful Mondays: Jael

^“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.” Deuteronomy 4:31