Influencers Weekly Devotional...Heal Our Land

The Return

by

Rocky Fleming

“To preserve our blessed land we must look to God... It is time to realize that we need God more than He needs us... We also have His promise that we could take to heart with regard to our Country, that 'If my people, which are called by my name shall 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.' The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America... Our Country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal.” Ronald Reagan

Since my devotional last week, we are seeing an exciting response by people and churches to our request for a national gathering of prayer on November 2nd at 12:00 Noon. We are hearing these leaders say enthusiastically, “We are in!” Why is this? It is not because what we are requesting is unique, for there are many groups and churches who are already meeting, and having special prayer for our Country all over our land. However, what we are asking is that God's family in America gather together in spirit for a concert of prayer at that time. This will provide four hours of continuous fasting and prayer, as believers in each time zone gather and pray at noon that day. I believe a unified heart, along with a unified purpose has been missing from God's Church way too long, and there is no better time and need than what exists today to bring us together. I also believe what we will be doing will bring great delight to our King, and might be the beginning of a great awakening of His Church in America. As President Reagan affirmed in his words above, our Country is in need of and ready for a spiritual renewal. Could it be that a spiritual renewal or awakening in God's family is nearer to God's heart than healing a land that has left Him? Who knows? No one knows if our prayer will bring healing to a land that was once guided by God's precepts, but has strayed far from them? This will be the decision that Sovereign God will make. But, I do believe healing of our land will take place no other way than God providing it, and God has invited us to come to Him to possibly find it. Sometimes I fear that American Christians see God more as a source for making life comfortable for them, but little willingness with being obedient to the conditions He requires. We want a quick and easy answer for our problems, even though the problems may be a consequence of our disobedience. It is true that God is a gracious, forgiving God. Because Christ took the consequence of our sin on Himself, we have Him as our advocate when we stray from His precepts. But, God still hates our sin and disobedience, even though He still loves us. Still, there is a living consequence that we must endure until we turn back to Him. The story of the Prodigal Sonfound in Luke 15 is an allegory Jesus gave of the truth that turning back to the Father also requires turning away from our rebellious ways. It is a story of a son being lured from his father's home and its safety into a culture of depravity. In this dark place, the son came to understand how good his life once was. It sounds a lot like the way America has been lured from our Father's safety doesn't it? How many people in our Country want to go back to the good times when America was once healthy? How many Christians in America are saying the same thing as non-Christians? Here's the good news: As the prodigal father welcomed his disobedient but repentant son back into his arms, so God also welcomes any of us who repent and return to Him. You see, the prodigal son was never out of his father's love or his heart. He was simply out of his care. Likewise, the Church is never out of God's love or His heart, but we could stray from His care, and there will be consequences. Like the prodigal son who came to his senses and returned to the Father, so can America. But it will require God's people leading the way, by turning from our independence and pride, and going there ourselves. America and its woes is a consequence of leaving God's precepts. This is obvious. But, it could also be a result of the Church becoming passive in our fiduciary care of our Country. Therefore, the return of America must begin with the Church in America becoming repentant and returning herself. The consequence of a once mighty Nation is being seen because we the Church failed to protect our Country with our prayers, and by being united in our spiritual purpose in protecting this Country. We must recognize this truth, as the prodigal son did before his return. But, God our Father is eagerly waiting for us. He is ready to throw a great banquet to celebrate our return, and healing our land might be the way He does it. Last week I used the verse in 2 Chronicles 7:14 to begin this series. I joined about a million other preachers and priests and teachers in the wise use of this verse. Even President Reagan used it. If this verse and its encouragement is to be our guide, then we must follow it rightly. What does it say? “If my people who are called by my name” – This is a specific instruction from God to His people. The Church in America is His people. “Humble themselves” – This is a necessary condition for the Church, just as the Prodigal Son humbled himself. We cannot approach Him in our pride, but rather our brokenness. “And pray and seek my face”– This is an action required on the part of the Church, but note… to seek Him, not seek what He may do for us. “Turn from their wicked ways”- We cannot remain in our independence of God and truly be repentant. We cannot continue to follow the ways of the world, and also be a guide for our Country. We cannot continue to water down God's precepts to make it socially acceptable, and find the guidance it gives. If we want America to return to the Biblical value system she once followed, then these values must be the Church's guide as well. It starts with us. “ThenI will hear from heaven” - God is saying that these conditions are required for our prayers on behalf of our Country to be heard. Have those prayers we've been sending to Him been hindered? “And will forgive their sin and heal their land” - Note that the sickness of the land is the result of sin and an unrepentant people. But, the land being healed is a result of repentance and God's forgiveness of God's people. Now is the time for God's people to respond to His invitation. Our Country needs it. But most of all, God's family in America needs it. Let's make November 2nd at 12:00 noon our return to the Father. Help us get the word out. If you want more information and ideas as to how to expand this proclamation to people in your social network, please follow the dedicated page on our website at stageinflu.wpengine.com.