Humbling Ourselves

2 Chronicles 7:14

“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 will heal their land.”

What a wonderful promise! If we will humble ourselves, pray and seek God’s face, then He will forgive our sins and heal our land. It isn’t that God doesn’t want to do those things at all times. It isn’t that God is withholding something wonderful from us in exchange for our works. God is already holding out forgiveness and healing. He is always holding out forgiveness and healing. We just have to ask for it.

And that’s what the first part of this verse means. If we humble ourselves….how do we humble ourselves? Well, we have to admit that we are not the end-all-be-all. We have to admit that we have weaknesses. We have to admit that we need help. We have to be willing to ask for help. Asking for help takes humility. It takes a recognition that we can’t do it on our own, that our strength and ability is not enough. If we pray…why pray? Well, prayer is the way that we communicate with God. Once we are willing to acknowledge that we need help, we have to ask for that help. We do that through prayer. If we seek His face….. we need to recognize that the source of the help that we need doesn’t come from another human being, it comes from God.

We know from Hebrews that we must have faith to receive from God, that faith is what pleases God, and that we must come to God in prayer through faith. We have to believe that He exists. We have to recognize that God is. That He is real. That He is able. That He can provide what it is we need. That He will listen to us. We have to believe that He is good. We have to believe that He has good in store for us. When we believe these things, then when we encounter trouble or realize our lack, we will turn to Him, recognizing that He is the source of help and provision. Doing so requires that we humble ourselves.

Is there something you’ve been working for that is still out of reach? Is there something you lack? Is there an aching in your soul for more that you just don’t know how to fill? Acknowledge your limits. Turn to God in prayer. Believe that He is and that He is good and that His desire is for your good. And ask Him. He has promised forgiveness and healing. He has promised to supply what you need.

Father, I thank you that you are a good God. I thank you that you have only my good in mind. I thank you that you offer forgiveness and healing at all times, I just have to recognize my need for it and ask you. Thank you that those who seek you will find you. Thank you that you do not withhold any good thing from me. I recognize, God, that there are longings in my heart that I just can’t fulfill, no matter how hard I might try. I need you, God. I need you to fill in those holes in my soul. I need you to supply my needs. I need your forgiveness, your help, and your healing. Thank you that you offer it freely. In Jesus’ name, Amen.