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Scripture text set to music Audio "Let Us Pray" "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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Today is the "National Day of Prayer" here in the USA. Our encouragement message goes out to believers in many different countries so we try to write for the spiritual edification of all true believers regardless of where they live. We are unaware of other countries that might have official national days of prayer as we have here in America. However I genuinely believe this is a very important day here in the country where God has providentially ordained that I should live out my life here on this earth. America is in deep trouble and is in need of genuine repentance. Although there is an active remnant of true believers, the vast majority of our population gives little or no attention to God. Our government and court systems increasingly pass laws and policies that will surely lead to persecution for the believers. Our arts and entertainment industry is a cesspool of immorality. Broken marriages and troubled households abound and in recent years a massive effort is being made to drastically redefine what constitutes marriage. Violence fills the land. Our educational system has been very successful at breaking down the moral constraints. Brooksyne and I see this brokenness first hand in our ministry to the workplace, but it's evident to anyone who turns on the news or reads a newspaper. I believe one of the greatest evidences of this escalating trouble is spiritual blindness. I have often pondered the daily verse and committed it to memory many years ago. It will surely be quoted in many prayer services today. It is initially expressed as a condition and promise to Solomon during a time of great personal and national consecration as the temple is being dedicated approximately 3,000 years ago. I believe there is an element to this promise that is unique to Israel as a nation, who as a national people were called by God's Name. The phrase "My people" in the daily verse in its initial application applied to these people and this specific land. Thus I feel there is interpretive error when we view our specific country (wherever we live) as God's land in the same sense as that spoken of in the initial promise. True believers foundationally hold heavenly citizenship (far superior to our national citizenship). Having said that, I believe there is still great application in the condition and promise today. There is surely a sense that "My people" today refers to the redeemed in Christ who live throughout the world. God requires these conditions of His people:
Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Daily prayer: Father in Heaven, We lift our eyes toward Your Throne, where You reign in righteousness. Your Word assures us that when Your people cry out in sincerity and humility, You will never turn a deaf ear to us. We call upon You now, seeking Your forgiveness and favor. Look over this fevered landscape and heal us, Lord. Drop knees to the floor and raise eyes to the sky, for we know where our help comes from. Unite these States again in devotion to You, and blur every dividing line. Do not give us over to our sins. Give us, instead, over to passionate prayer that moves Your heart. “May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen Today's prayer is the same as the one posted on the National Day of Prayer website. Today's
Suggested Music and
Supplemental Resources Click on the link to open and play. In some cases you may also need to click again to start the song. "If My People Pray" 2 Chronicles 7:14 from the Integrity Scripture memory series Audio "If My People Pray" Video by Avalon Some random notes: One
year ago today Brooksyne broke her ankle when we were out on
our country walk and it changed her lifestyle for several months. We
are so blessed at her full recovery. I had to get this shot
in as I walked upstairs and saw her standing
at the computer this morning. Here's a photo of Brooksyne a year ago. * Today's text brings to mind an incident from Bible College over 30 years ago. Once we had a US congressman from southwest Missouri as our chapel speaker and he referred to the daily verse but mistakenly said 2 Corinthians 7:14 (rather than 2 Chronicles 7:14). We had a very colorful student who came out of an addictive background who had the nickname Hallelujah Frank due to his very expressive worship nature. Hallelujah Frank ran up to the front right after chapel was over to correct the congressmen concerning the mistaken reference, embarrasing the college administrators as I recall, in the brusque way he handled the congressman's innocent error. * Yesterday Steve Higgins, a friend from Massachusetts, shared an interesting perspective: "I recently read an article in, of all places, the Boston Globe and the person being interviewed said something I found intriguing. One of the biggest dangers we face in the church today is becoming admirers of Jesus and not followers. Isn’t it great to come to church, pat each other on the back and talk about all of the good things Jesus did? It’s almost to some even in the church that he is just another cult hero. But to be a follower takes commitment. Commitment is something many of us never truly make anymore." * Our friend Doris High took the outstanding close-up of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak used at the top of today's message. See here for more from her Rose-breasted Grosbeak collection. Send
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