Following the lines of yesterday’s post about following God with integrity of heart and uprightness, comes one of my favorite readings. But, I have to admit that in the past I only concentrated on a portion of verse 14. I find reading a little bit before and a little bit after, shed fresh light and insight.
2 Chronicles 7:11-16 (NIV) “When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said:
"I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.”
God is addressing Solomon, He is responding to the prayer Solomon offered up during the Dedication of the Temple. He is reiterating that as long as the people follow Him and not practice the worship of other gods, as long as the people are faithful to The One True God, as long as they walk with integrity and uprightness, God will hear their prayers.
The same is true for us. If we turn to Him and away from our sin-filled lives, acknowledge Jesus as LORD and believe He is the only path to everlasting life, we will be heard. Our prayers will be answered and we will experience such healing of heart and mind that we will be filled with hope and joy.
This writer can find no better reason to give thanks, so with that, I wish everyone of you and truly blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.
Read 2 Chronicles 5-7 here
Listen to 2 Chronicles 5-7 here
