On July 14, I gathered with my team to wait on the Lord and listen for His instructions as we prepared to go out on a prayer assignment.
Soon after coming together, we realized that 2 Chronicles 7:14 (mirroring the date of our prayer assignment) was a significant key to what the Lord was asking of us. Yet, we knew that though this is a commonly used verse for praying over a nation— that this time, we needed to wait for the Lord’s revelation within it.
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
I quickly realized that often we look at the “one’s who need to turn from their evil ways” as being those who stand against the Lord and who are being used to further deception in our nations. But in this verse, the Lord specifically talks to His people— not the world. If MY PEOPLE will humble themselves, pray, seek My face, and turn from THEIR evil ways…
I then went to a commentary on this verse that said this regarding 2 Chronicles 7:14,
God expects that his people who are called by his name, if they have dishonoured his name by their iniquity, should honor it by accepting the punishment of their iniquity. They must be humble themselves under his hand, must pray for the removal of the judgment (punishment), must seek the face and favor of God; and yet all this will not do unless they turn from their wicked ways, and return to the God from whom they have revolted. National mercy is then promised, that God will forgive their sin, which brought the judgment upon them, and then heal their land, redress all their grievances. God will release pardoning mercy then makes ways for healing mercy.” (see Psalms 103:3; Matthew 9:2)
I saw a vision of His people sitting at the foot of the cross and casting lots for Jesus’ garments. I did not know why I was seeing this but felt that it related to the iniquity of His people that He desires to remove.
It is believed that Jesus’ garment was seamless and of high quality, therefore a greatly desired prize. This is why lots were used so that only one of the soldiers would receive this “prize.” The garment was the same quality of clothing, woven from top to bottom in one piece, worn by the high priest in Jerusalem’s temple.
Is the Lord speaking to the divisions that we see within the Church? Jesus’ final prayer before going to the cross in John 17 is that “we would be one as He and His Father are one.” And yet, often, we see divisions among the church and within the church that are petty, self-serving, and stir up iniquity. John 17 goes on to say that when we are one— THEN THE WORLD WILL KNOW THAT THE FATHER SENT HIS SON. Then the world will know…
Is it possible that we have been like those Roman soldiers who cast lots for the ownership of His stripping and sacrifice? Rather than humbly bowing at the cross, have we divided what He died for and taken it for our own benefit? Have we been taking communion together while being divided in our love and hearts from one another?
For to begin with, I hear that when you come together as a church there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.” 1 Corinthians 11:18
Paul was speaking about this regarding the instructions about taking communion— which is the remembrance of His broken body and blood poured out for us. We need to humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face to see healing come to the divisions and iniquity in those who have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ— to become seamless and no longer frayed and divided.
Now, going back to 1 Chronicles 7:14– as we read in the commentary, the iniquity of His people brings judgment and punishment upon the land. Therefore, our repentance and turning away from iniquities— humbly seeking the His face— can heal our land. The Lord clearly spoke to those of us going out on the prayer assignment that He deeply desires to revoke the punishment (judgment) that has come from the iniquities of His people and to pour out “national mercies” over all— the saved and the lost alike.
We cannot continue to point a finger at the world and the lost as the source of judgments upon our nations. We must look at ourselves— His people and ask the Spirit of the Lord to expose to us and remove from us our iniquities. We MUST humble ourselves and turn to seek His face with all of our hearts so that His blessings and His favor will rest upon our nations and upon the people— turning many to come to
know Him.
This is not to be a heavy word with a finger pointed harshly at His people, but a word of invitation and His hand extended to lift us up. It is a word that invites us to receive mercy and redemption. It invites us into freedom and true righteousness. It invites us into oneness.
Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer; when you cry out, He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, and if you offer yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted one, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry.” Isaiah 58:8-11
May God turn the bitter waters sweet again. He is asking us to make sure that the words of our lips are used to speak a blessing over our brothers and sisters in Christ (no longer malicious or bitter). And to cry out in love for the lost. As we bow humble before our Savior, may we allow the seamless garment of His righteousness to clothe us as one body that is one with the Father, Son and Spirit (who are also one).
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:7-10
This is our prayer! Yes, Lord, forgive our iniquities and turn Your face toward us. Restore us to purity and remove the punishment from our land. Heal us and restore us to Your favor as You pour out mercy over us once again.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries
Featured Image by Aldrin Rachman Pradana on Unsplash
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