If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.
Humility is not our culture's most valued asset or most desired character quality. However, humility is what is needed - not so much because it's commanded (though that would be enough), but because we've "earned" our need for humility through our arrogance and abandonment of God and his character, compassion, and faithful lovingkindness. Every year brings another wave of major failures in morality, character, and spirituality among our leaders, both political and religious. Even on our best days, we all fall short of God's holiness. Rather than progressing culturally, we find ourselves slipping, rebelling, and degrading ourselves. Our need to approach God with humility is "earned." So let's be humble ourselves and call upon the Lord, throwing off our sin and seeking after him. Only then will we begin to see our hope for a brighter future emerge and healing come to the people.
My Prayer...
Holy and Almighty God, your deeds are awesome, your faithfulness is overwhelming, and your mercy and grace are such blessings. I come to you knowing that you hear me, despite the incredible distance between you and me, between your worth and holiness and my lack of it. I confess that I, and my culture and country around me, have made a mess of what you so wonderfully blessed us with. We come humbly, asking that you reassert yourself in our churches, nations, and leaders in clearly recognizable ways. At the same time, we humbly acknowledge our personal failures, arrogance, and rebellion. We ask for your grace, in faith, through the power and loving mercy found in Jesus and his name. Amen.
"[Jesus said to the people,] "Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad."
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"Dear Beloved,
I know that believing in Me is not always easy or natural. So I want to remind you of My half-brother James. My apostle James had been...."
"This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor bondaged Israelites must needs go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them...."
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