If MY People

Most of us are concerned for our countries.

We often hear 2 Chronicles 7:14 quoted:

"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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
 
It's important to understand that this was a promise made to Israel at a particular point in history. It's not a guarantee that faithful Christians can change any nation. Some of the most dedicated Christians lives in evil countries where they are heavily persecuted.(1)

But 2 Chronicles 7:14 still contains some wonderful principles for affecting our communities.

Did you notice: this verse concentrates on what's wrong with God's people, not the rest of the country. It calls us to:

• humble ourselves
• pray
• seek God
• turn from our wicked ways

Unfortunately, we often spend more time complaining about what others are doing instead of examining ourselves and repenting of our sins.

And we are notorious for complaining, forgetting this commands:

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.'” Philippians 2:14-15

It's not that we don't have things to complain about. But God's people should be praying, not complaining.
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(1) 2 Chronicles 7:14 was written to Old Testament Israel, a nation uniquely chosen by God as the nation into which the Messiah was born. 

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