When Will He Heal Our Land
Posted on January 2, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call
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 heal their land. – 2 Chronicles 7:14
We’re at the last part of this series, and I’m so thankful to have been able to write about this topic. The part of the verse I’m talking about today is “turn from their wicked ways.” Repentance.
Here are some quotes by Charles Spurgeon on this topic:
“Repentance is as much a mark of a Christian as faith is. A very little sin, as the world calls it, is a very great sin to a true Christian.”
“Christian, beware of thinking lightly of sin. Take heed, in case you fall little by little.”
“Another proof of the conquest of a soul for Christ will be found in a real change of life. If the man does not live differently from what he did before, both at home and abroad, his repentance needs repented of, and his conversion is a fiction.”
Repentance is so important, and relates to every topic I’ve written about in this series.
1. Humility – when we confess our sins and repent, we are doing so in an act of humility and an acknowledgement that we need God, because without Him we are nothing.
2. Prayer – (See Psalm 66:18, Proverbs 1:28-29, Isaiah 59:2). When we are living a life of allowed sin, we are hindering the effectiveness of our prayers.
3. Seeking His Face – This means seeking Him in all aspects of our lives. We cannot seek His face without repentance. We can’t actively pursue the Will of God while actively disobeying Him.
Our choice is between following God or following sin. If we want to be in line with God, the answer is obvious – we must follow the route of repentance.
Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out. – Acts 3:19
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. – Luke 13:3
But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? – Ezekiel 18:21-23
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. – Proverbs 28:13
The fact that we have the opportunity to repent and be freed from guilt is so amazing. The flesh is weak, but our God is strong. It is by HIS strength alone can we forsake sin. He is so good!
Erin
Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. She is so excited that after 5 years on Summer Staff, she now has the opportunity to serve at Keswick year ’round. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with Scripture, buying new dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!