When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if 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 and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:13–14
My dad used to tell me, “Son, you will never have the power to change someone else. You have to learn to impact the things that you can. The person you can change is you.” As an angry teenager, I could not fully appreciate the wisdom in those words.
Too often, I have blamed the world around me for my lack of happiness, wealth, health, or relationship. But in all those situations, the common denominator is me.
Here is what I know to be true: the way to prepare for a movement of God in my life is through repentance. Not waiting on others to repent. Not demanding that a world that does not know God repents. Not being angry at my boss, friends, or family. Not demanding that they change. But that I repent.
2 Chronicles 7 talks about that:
“If 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 and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14
Not if everyone else, but if we, the people of God. If I, a child of God, hear, humble myself, pray, seek, and repent, then He will heal us.
Today I challenge you to be honest with yourself and believe the truth. It’s not easy. It’s tough, actually. You will need to pray that the Holy Spirit will help you by revealing the truth. Then own it and go to God. And believe that at the end of it is forgiveness and healing.