2 Chronicles 7:14 – “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.”  NASB

I openly acknowledge that I am a Christian, a preacher, a patriot, a Vietnam veteran, a father, a grandfather, and a lover of Freedom I find that those distinctions open me up to criticism and frequently put me on a watch list.  What I mean by that was amplified in a challenge I recently received to my quoting of the scripture I listed at the outset, 2 Chronicles 7:14. 

The person challenging me and, in a measure, castigating me was a fellow believer in the Lord Jesus and a genuine lover of America.  I was not put off by their challenge although they were very adamant and even a little belligerent, insisting that their view was the right view, and everyone needed to ascribe to that view.  That attitude is frequently caustic and divides more than unites.  The belief and objective may be right or wrong, but the attitude sometimes prevents the message from receiving a positive reception.

AMERICA NEEDS TO REPENT.

That’s what they insisted when I quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 and even wrote and spoke about its message and mandate.  The argument was, “America needs to repent, and until the nation repents God will not come to our aid.” Hopefully, I can present my thoughts without being antagonistic and argumentative.  I hope what I say will be inspirational and illuminative. 

I ask that you walk through what this passage says as we weep over the state of our nation.  Let me state, I am thankful for what has been done positively in America during the past four years.  I am sorrowful over what is being done and is being done in the chaos, anarchy, rioting, hate, bitterness, vitriol, and division.  I believe we are focusing on the wrong things and therefore can never find the genuine and needed solution to our nation’s ills. 

What I am going to say is not directed to those, in this nation, who do not believe in God, nor follow Jesus as their Savior.  I am not attempting to address those who are not Christians.  They are Americans and valued by God, the Constitution, and me.  I am not writing to disparage them in any measure, they are what they are, they believe what they believe, and therefore do what they do, based on who they are on the inside. 

What I desire to address is directed specifically to the Body of Christ, the Church, the Christians who are citizens of this great nation.  I believe that the healing of the nation is not dependent on America, as a nation, repenting of her sins.  I will not argue that the nation has no sin and does not need to repent on many fronts.  That is not the focus and directive of 2 Chronicles 7:14, which is a critical element in America’s healing and survival. 

Some weeks ago, in my prayer time, I had a clear impression from that voice inside my heart that said, “This election and the healing of the nation is up to you.”  That was shocking, stunning, and disturbing.  My question to the LORD was, “Up to me?”  Then, I sensed that it was not the specific you (Roy Beaird) but you as in the collective meaning the Body of Christ and Christians.  I knew in my heart that God was telling me that the outcome of the election and the healing or fall of the nation was in the hands of His People.  I was immediately drawn to 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 6:9-13, Matthew 6:33, and other passages related to His Kingdom, His Rule, His Person, His Presence, His Power, and His Purpose.

That caused me to carefully meditate upon the words in the passage that promises healing for the nation.  Let’s examine it bit by bit and if it resonates with you that is great, and if not then dismiss it.  I offer the thought which I believe to be biblically sound and provides a rational and reasonable approach.  I believe it places the onus where it belongs and if embraced will compel those of us who believe in God and call ourselves Christians.  It may seem a heavy load, but it comes with God’s Promise of Healing therefore worth it.

IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME.

That statement is not directed at the nation but to the believers.  Therefore, everything in this directive is to be viewed as the mandate for those who are ‘believers’.  It is not directed to those who are not.  It is not a call for the nation but the Church or the Body of Christ to take a specific and definitive action.  Although, I would never argue that it is not needed and good for the entire nation to repent and turn toward the right, the moral, and the good.

The directive is that we are to “humble ourselves.”  It is one thing to humble ourselves and another to be humbled.  I have experienced both and can assure you that even though neither is pleasant it is far more pleasant and productive to humble ourselves than to experience being humbled.  Both involve a bit of humiliation but being humbled can be utterly devastating. 

Included in that directive is “pray.”  We are directed to pray but not just generalized generic prayers.  We are to pray out of a spirit of humility and total dependence on God.  We are to pray specific prayers for the healing of the nation.  If we anchor that with Matthew 6:9-13 and with Matthew 6:33 we will realize that we are asking God to demonstrate His Kingdom, Rule, and Reign on this earth and in our lives.  We are, in humility seeking His face not just for ourselves but for our nation. 

We are also to take definitive steps to “turn from our wicked ways.”  That did not say the nation’s wicked ways but ‘our wicked ways.’  We are not praying over the wickedness of the government.  We are not focused on the wickedness of those outside the Body of Christ but “our wickedness” which may include our negligence in obedience.  This places the onus on us to repent which means to turn in the opposite direction and do differently than we have been doing.  We are seeking God in an attitude of personal repentance as we intercede for the healing of our nation.

THEN…

The Promise is, “then I will hear from heaven…”  That is incredible because according to 1 John 5:14-15, “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”  The next part of that is that “if He hears us the prayer is answered.”  We have the direct promise of God to HEAR if we humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, repent, and turn from wicked or disobedience practices in our lives.  We have the promise of God to answer and HEAL our Land! 

Therefore, the healing of the nation is in the hands of the Body of Christ.  We need to stop looking at the sins of the nation and look at our own lives and follow the directive of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and thereby watch God HEAL OUR LAND!  I am committed to obedience and intercession for the nation. 

There is an answer to our ills and it not politics, laws, or interpretation of those laws, IT IS RETURNING TO GOD with a Whole Heart.  Believers we can see our nation healed. 

God bless you and God bless America!