The If and Then of Prayer
Pastor Calvin Cook
December 8, 2025
Based on 2 Chronicles 7:14
There is some excitement and reluctance in sharing these thoughts this morning in regard to relationship with God especially prayer. But through the Holy Spirit’s prompting, I am willing to go and follow where the Holy Spirit is leading with this devotional today.
Gail and I had a recent long overdue chiropractor visit. In the waiting room there was a bookcase of books with a poster that said “free books” – “take one if you can – leave one if you can”. I thumbed through the books and this one book entitled “Praying For Your Elephant” authored by Adam Stadtmiller seemed to jump off the shelf. I brought the book home and began to read it. I confess that I was convicted it was not about making time to read another book – this became a spiritual necessity. Something that I desperately needed, especially for the time, place, and situations that I have recently found myself in. None of those situations is necessarily bad or concerning, instead I would refer to them as refining.
Over the weekend and this morning, I found myself being drawn to the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14:
There is a rhythm in Scripture that reveals the heart of God—the idea of invitation and response, of if and then. Nowhere is this clearer than in 2 Chronicles 7:14, one of the most powerful calls to prayer in all the Bible:
“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 will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV)
This is a go to scripture – I have spoke it, learned it, preached it, and tried to live it but in this verse, reading and praying through it, should not be a quick that’s a nice verse, but mediating on it, thinking on it two particular words that I have capitalized say – slow down, think on, and pray through these words. I will even go as far as saying the Holy Spirit saying – “You need to know this, your loved ones and friends need to know this, your church needs this, your community needs this, so that you can and will be drawn closer to and changed by God.
The two words in case you missed it are IF and THEN. Two simple words that in this context have life changing meaning.
The promise doesn’t begin with the THEN – it begins with the IF.
We like the THEN first – because we don’t always want to think that the momentum of prayer and answered prayer includes anything on our part other than laying our request out for God to fix.
But – here is what we need to realize. First what we should know: God is not distant, silent, or indifferent to brokenness or the burdens we carry. God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is standing ready to listen, ready to forgive, and ready to heal. For goodness’ sake even ready to pray on our behalf when we don’t know the right words. But He invites us—His people—to take the first step into the flow of His renewing power.
The “If my people” become the big part ! If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways”. Now there is a check list we don’t often think about when we come to God in prayer.
We could spend a couple days on the IF and I have been so there is more that could be said here, but not wanting to make this longer or distract you what the Holy Spirit is saying to you right now we will move onto the THEN –
THEN I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
I can’t help but think, maybe why so many are not experiencing the THEN because they have not been part of the IF.
Prayer is not simply asking for things—it is seeking God Himself. The greatest answer to prayer is the presence of God. When we seek His face, our hearts change, our desires align with His will, and His peace steadies our troubled thoughts. I mean that is why we have the experience of the Holy Spirit. It is God in the room, all the time.
It is that presence that should be causing us to seek forgiveness, experience redemption and strive to be closer to God than we were the minute before.
Repentance is not punishment; it is a gift. God does not call us to turn away from life but toward life. Every turning from sin is a turning toward healing, freedom, and wholeness.
God makes a promise if we keep the IF – “then I will hear…. Forgive…. Heal…….”
These are not weak promises. They are divine commitments. God hears every humble cry. God forgives every repentant heart. God heals every place surrendered to His hands.
The IF and THEN of prayer reminds us that God desires our companionship as much as we desire His. A partnership with His people. He does not force Himself upon us. He invites us to return, to kneel, to seek, and to pray—because He longs to restore, revive, and renew.
Today, consider this simple question:
Where is God inviting you into an IF so that He can release a THEN in your life?
Where do you need humility? Where are you being called to seek His face? Where must you turn back to Him?
When we take God at His word and meet His “IF”, we can trust Him fully for the “THEN”
And in that place of prayerful surrender, healing begins.
Thoughts from the Edges 
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