By Bryan D. Gill, D.Min.
Director of the Office of Faith, Learning and Vocation, Samford University
Praying for our nation
2 Chronicles 7:1–3,12–20
The United States has a history of great revivals sweeping the nation. During these times, thousands of people repented and gave their lives to God. Growing up in the deep South, revivals have historically been a big part of the local churches as well. I’ve preached at countless revivals across Alabama and other parts of the country.
When I was a child, I gave my life to Christ at a tent revival in Arkansas. What God has done before, He can certainly do again in this country. But what if the next great revival is one that starts in your own heart? What if the spark that ignites a fire that sweeps the nation began with you?
God’s glory compels us to humble ourselves before God. (1–3)
When the glory of God filled the temple as noted in our passage for today, the people were struck with awe and wonder. Their response wasn’t coy or unimpressed. Fire engulfed the offering and filled the temple, and they knelt with faces pressed to the pavement and praised God.
When was the last time you experienced God with awe and wonder? When was the last time you saw something so incredible and all you could do was fall to your knees and praise God? Maybe it was a beautiful sunset or a snow-capped mountain. Maybe it was looking into the eyes of your children or listening as waves crashed on the ocean. John Piper once said, “Nobody goes to the Grand Canyon to increase his self-esteem.” The feeling of awe and wonder you get as you look over the edge of this incredible sight is, as Piper says, “what you were made for.” True revival will begin in our hearts when we remove the noise and distractions and see the beauty of God’s power and majesty around us.
God promises to hear our prayers when we turn to Him. (12–16)
Have you ever thought about what happens when you pray? When we pray, we surrender ourselves to God. We place ourselves in a posture that says, “I need you, God, because I can’t do this with my own strength.” It is no coincidence that this passage connects humbling themselves and praying in the same sentence.
Prayer requires humility. When we approach God in prayer, we are putting our hearts in a humble posture that then opens us to hear God more clearly.
Praying for our country to experience revival is important, but we should also humble ourselves to pray for our family, our neighbors, our enemies, those who look differently than we do, those with different political views and that God would expose any wrongdoing in our own lives.
God blesses those who faithfully follow Him. (17–20)
Actions have either benefits or consequences. In our passage for today, God told Solomon that obeying Him and walking faithfully with Him would lead to blessings. However, disobedience would lead to consequences.
When I look at our country, I see a lot of evil and disobedience. It’s overwhelming to think about and seemingly impossible that people will repent and turn to God. But take heart! Luke 18:27 reminds us, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” What might seem impossible for our country is possible with the power of God. This revival will probably not start with a celebrity or a politician — but it could start with you. As Gypsy Smith once said about revival, “Find a piece of chalk and find an empty room.
“Go into that room and shut the door. Draw a circle on the floor with that chalk, kneel down in that circle, and ask God to start revival right there.” God is faithful and will answer your prayer.
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