Seeking Jesus from the Edges – A National Day of Prayer Devotional

Seeking Jesus from the Edges

National Day of Prayer Devotional

Scripture focus – 2 Chronicles 7:13-16 ESV

13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there all time.

Today is what has become known as the National Day of Prayer. A time for the nation to seek the face of God and enter a time of prayer. This morning as I have spent some time in reflection, I have a desire to share words that will call us back to the place that God always intended us to be. As our focus these last few days have been about “going deeper” and leaving the shallowness of our faith, I feel this will begin with earnest heartfelt times of prayer. Prayer is certainly the gateway to this relationship that we have been desiring for so long.

The words through 2 Chronicles5, 6 & 7 become a very spiritual litany of praises, petitions, and words from God that should cause us with great desire to search out God and seek a divine fellowship without any reservation. Prayer becomes a commitment of expectancy that God will answer from the heights and grandeur of the holy places in which God inhabits. The only things that stop this expectation and self-centeredness of ourselves. I trust God is doing great and powerful things for me and you and this entire world, we as a people just need to receive and accept this.

I must ask what truly are we searching for? The closing verses of 2 Chronicles 5 begins with some very clear instruction that our words should be regardless of what ever is happening “He is good; His love endures forever.” The scripture affirms when this happened that “the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Causing me to ask are we desiring as a people to see more of God, to see God’s glory fill this place. By this place I mean this world, this state, this community, this church, this home, this place of business.

The second part is the call from 2 Chronicles 13-16. When the people realized the power of God, they heard clearly the call to humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways, and seek the face the glory of the Lord. We are then promised by God that when this takes place, we will experience healing and forgiveness and see a new and brighter day before us.

Friends, it starts with us! It starts with us moving to the deep and away from the shallow waters of life that we spend all our time in. It begins when our hearts unite not to just pray for our needs but when we as the people of God pray “thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” I am longing for that feeling of holiness and glory to flood this nation and this world, but particularly I am praying that I can be an example of that faith and hope.

Peace to you as you pray for the Hope of God to fill this world.