2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV "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 heal their land."
Our world today is filled with wireless gadgets. The number of people who do not have a cell phone are nearly the minority these days. Cell phones have gained such prominence that many have dropped their land lines completely and only use cell phones. My family has followed this trend as well. With cell plans dropping in price it has made it affordable for many families to add multiple lines enough for all to stay in touch with one another.
Although cells phones are fairly widespread, you are not able to get a cell signal in all places. The more remote or rural a place is the less likely you are to have coverage. I travel about 3,000 miles a month to accomplish my pastoral duties and I have learned where I will drop calls. The problem is with the location of cell sites. Most people say "cell towers" but the truth is that come antennas are mounted on buildings and other structures. But we can use the term and know what we are talking about. A cell site will cover a certain radius based on natural terrain, technology used, and urban terrain features (i.e., buildings, houses, etc.).
Another factor to consider is the hand-held device you use. Older style phones came equipped with external antennas that were either fixed or extend-able. Today, users prefer sleek devices with internal antennas and the market has adjusted to meet that preference. Each cell service provider promises that they have the best coverage, the best prices, and the best devices. All have pros and cons and not every carrier will always leave each consumer completely happy.
I am thankful for the work that my device allows me to do as I travel around my pastoral district. It truly saves me a ton of time when I have signal. As I think about how cell phones are a part of our lives it causes me to consider our connections with the Lord. It makes me question whether we are as concerned with whether or not we connected with our Heavenly Father. If we have too many dropped calls on our phone we rail against our cell provider, but when we walk through life unconnected with the the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) far too many of us do not even know it.
When Solomon finished the Lord's temple and the palace he made sacrifices to God and asked the Lord to bless what he had accomplished. The Lord came to him and told him that He wanted to bless His people, but there were conditions that must be met first. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God told them that He would hear their prayers and heal their lands if they did four simple things.
First, He said that they must humble themselves. Humility does not always come easy for us, but we can become humble if we reflect on the life of Christ and surrender our will to His. We should pray to not be prideful or arrogant.
Secondly, God said they needed to pray. This seems so obvious, but so many who profess to be Christians simply do not pray anymore if they ever did. We have to pray and ask forgiveness for our sins daily if we want to stay connected to God. Is a friend truly a friend if we never talk to them or they to us?
Thirdly, He told them to seek Him. When we look at the story of Noah we quickly realize that God's Spirit does not strive with us forever (Gen 6:3) so we must seek God's will while He may still be found (Isaiah 55:6). One day soon our opportunity for salvation will be gone and we will be lost if we are not connected to Jesus (Rev 22:11).
Lastly, God told Solomon that He wanted His people to turn from their wicked ways. This would come easy if they were following the other three categories. If they were humble, praying, God-seeking people then sin would be nearly naturally eliminated in the process. It was after they did these things that God promised to hear them and heal their land.
So how is your connection with God today? Are you a humble, praying, God-seeking, and evil-avoiding Christian? Seems like a tall order in some ways doesn't it? If you try to do it in your own strength and power then it will not only be a tall order it will be an impossible one. The secret to all of this is to allow Jesus to be your source of power. You see, Jesus is the "Tower of Power" that we each need. He is the One who will keep us connected and who will mold us and make us what He wants us to be.
Some of you reading this have not maintained your walk with Christ and you feel a total lack of power in your life. Some of you may not have been to church in years. Today, all of that can change. Today, you can choose to turn your life over to Christ and He will revamp your weak life and give you a life filled with power and hope. Why not take that step today and become connected with the true source of power. When you are connected to Jesus you never have to worry about a "dropped call" when you pray because Jesus does not lose power or coverage. He is the source that never runs dry. The recipe for accepting Jesus is in 1 John 1:9. We are told to confess our sins and He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He longs to connect with you, step out in faith and answer His call.
Dear Father God,
Please forgive us where we have not lived in a way that connects us to You. Give us the courage to surrender to Christ that we might receive His power and heavenly connection. Bless us as we follow You. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Our world today is filled with wireless gadgets. The number of people who do not have a cell phone are nearly the minority these days. Cell phones have gained such prominence that many have dropped their land lines completely and only use cell phones. My family has followed this trend as well. With cell plans dropping in price it has made it affordable for many families to add multiple lines enough for all to stay in touch with one another.
Although cells phones are fairly widespread, you are not able to get a cell signal in all places. The more remote or rural a place is the less likely you are to have coverage. I travel about 3,000 miles a month to accomplish my pastoral duties and I have learned where I will drop calls. The problem is with the location of cell sites. Most people say "cell towers" but the truth is that come antennas are mounted on buildings and other structures. But we can use the term and know what we are talking about. A cell site will cover a certain radius based on natural terrain, technology used, and urban terrain features (i.e., buildings, houses, etc.).
Another factor to consider is the hand-held device you use. Older style phones came equipped with external antennas that were either fixed or extend-able. Today, users prefer sleek devices with internal antennas and the market has adjusted to meet that preference. Each cell service provider promises that they have the best coverage, the best prices, and the best devices. All have pros and cons and not every carrier will always leave each consumer completely happy.
I am thankful for the work that my device allows me to do as I travel around my pastoral district. It truly saves me a ton of time when I have signal. As I think about how cell phones are a part of our lives it causes me to consider our connections with the Lord. It makes me question whether we are as concerned with whether or not we connected with our Heavenly Father. If we have too many dropped calls on our phone we rail against our cell provider, but when we walk through life unconnected with the the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) far too many of us do not even know it.
When Solomon finished the Lord's temple and the palace he made sacrifices to God and asked the Lord to bless what he had accomplished. The Lord came to him and told him that He wanted to bless His people, but there were conditions that must be met first. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God told them that He would hear their prayers and heal their lands if they did four simple things.
First, He said that they must humble themselves. Humility does not always come easy for us, but we can become humble if we reflect on the life of Christ and surrender our will to His. We should pray to not be prideful or arrogant.
Secondly, God said they needed to pray. This seems so obvious, but so many who profess to be Christians simply do not pray anymore if they ever did. We have to pray and ask forgiveness for our sins daily if we want to stay connected to God. Is a friend truly a friend if we never talk to them or they to us?
Thirdly, He told them to seek Him. When we look at the story of Noah we quickly realize that God's Spirit does not strive with us forever (Gen 6:3) so we must seek God's will while He may still be found (Isaiah 55:6). One day soon our opportunity for salvation will be gone and we will be lost if we are not connected to Jesus (Rev 22:11).
Lastly, God told Solomon that He wanted His people to turn from their wicked ways. This would come easy if they were following the other three categories. If they were humble, praying, God-seeking people then sin would be nearly naturally eliminated in the process. It was after they did these things that God promised to hear them and heal their land.
So how is your connection with God today? Are you a humble, praying, God-seeking, and evil-avoiding Christian? Seems like a tall order in some ways doesn't it? If you try to do it in your own strength and power then it will not only be a tall order it will be an impossible one. The secret to all of this is to allow Jesus to be your source of power. You see, Jesus is the "Tower of Power" that we each need. He is the One who will keep us connected and who will mold us and make us what He wants us to be.
Some of you reading this have not maintained your walk with Christ and you feel a total lack of power in your life. Some of you may not have been to church in years. Today, all of that can change. Today, you can choose to turn your life over to Christ and He will revamp your weak life and give you a life filled with power and hope. Why not take that step today and become connected with the true source of power. When you are connected to Jesus you never have to worry about a "dropped call" when you pray because Jesus does not lose power or coverage. He is the source that never runs dry. The recipe for accepting Jesus is in 1 John 1:9. We are told to confess our sins and He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He longs to connect with you, step out in faith and answer His call.
Dear Father God,
Please forgive us where we have not lived in a way that connects us to You. Give us the courage to surrender to Christ that we might receive His power and heavenly connection. Bless us as we follow You. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.
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