A few days ago, the passage from Joel was my “Verse of the Day” in my Bible application. I almost instantly began creating a scripture image for it. Of course, I wasn’t able to get it completed and posted in as timely a manner as I hoped. When it was completed, I decided to share a little background and encouragement to go with it. When I was just about to start writing, that is when the old familiar verse from II Chronicles came to mind. While the words are different, the message is mostly the same.
- Humble yourselves
- Repent and turn for your sin
- Return to the Father
- In His grace and compassion He will forgive us.
- He will relent from His anger
- Heal their land
- Hear their prayers and answer them.
So my friends, whether it is your own personal sin or the sins of our country, we must humbly fall on our faces and cry out for forgiveness, leaning into his love, grace, and compassion. When we do so, we can be assured that He will do his part as promised. He will forgive, bring healing and restoration, and hear and answer all our other prayers to Him.
Will you join me in crying out to Him.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15
“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. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers and offered in this place.”
Joel 2:12-13
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
