Is your marriage in dire straits? Is your home filled with chaos and bedlam? Are you "put to the worse before the enemy"? God always shows us the way to get back to Him.
In 2 Chronicles 6:24 Solomon prayed for those who are "put to the worse" by the enemy of their souls. Throughout chapter 24 and also God's promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read God's conditions to get back under the cloud of blessing again.
1. Humble ourselves (2 Chronicles 7:14).
2. Return to God with all our hearts and souls (verses 24, 37, 38).
3. Confess our sins, "saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly" (verse 38).
4. Turn from our sin (verse 26 and 2 Chronicles 7:14)).
5. Confess (acknowledge) the name of the Lord (verses 24, 26).
6. Pray (verses 24, 26, 29, 324, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 2 Chronicles 7:14).
7. Make supplication (beseech) (verses 24, 29, 35, 39).
8. Seek God's face (2 Chronicles 7:14).
9. Spread forth our hands toward the Lord in our homes (verse 29).
10. Fear the Lord again (verse 31).
God always turns His heart toward us when we come before Him in humility and confess our sins. Each one of us fail, even as Solomon reminded God in his prayer, "for there is no man which sinneth not" (verse 36). But we have a forgiving heavenly Father. We have an advocate in Jesus Christ through His blood that flowed from His side upon the cross.
When we keep a soft and tender heart toward the Lord and toward one another, when we seek to have humble hearts instead of stubborn and proud hearts, and when we continually pray and seek the Lord in our homes He promises: "Mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually" (2 Chronicles 7:16). Oh, what a wonderful promise.
Don't you long for God's eyes and His heart to be continually upon your home?
Keep close accounts with God. Don't allow Satan to get a foothold in your home.
Amen from Nancy Campbell
Painting by Emily Schultz