Heal Our Land- A Call to Prayer

Heal Our Land A Call to Prayer

by

Rocky Fleming

“If my people who are called by my name 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. (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)

As I write this devotional, it is six weeks before what might be the biggest election this Country would have ever had. Since the Civil War and the conflict that arose before, it is my opinion that this Nation has never been more divided. This time it is not about the conflict that led to the abolishment of atrocities against the African Americans, and was fought brother against brother. This time, it is a conflict that must be fought by all Christians of all cultures and races in this Country, beside each other, for each other, and for this Nation. There is a battle line being drawn, and this is the time that God’s Influencers must suit up their spiritual armor and do what they do … which is to influence. My next five devotionals will be dedicated to seeking God’s perspective as to what has gone wrong to put this Country in this condition, and getting “suited up” for what must be done to bring healing to it. Will you pray for my words to be inspired by the Lord, and that they might become a unifying catalyst that leads to a Concert of Prayer by God’s family in America? On November 2nd at 12:00 Noon, Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific times, we ask you and those people you can draw into this effort to join with us to fast and pray at that time. But, this will not be about the election, as much as it is needed. It is about seeking the heart and perspective of God as His people within this Nation. We want to follow the guidance given in 2 Chronicles 7:14. It is there that you will read that the promised healing of a Nation is the result of God’s people getting right with Him first. This instruction and promise is to God’s people, the Church in America that God is speaking directly to. Therefore, His people must get right with Him first before our land can be healed. Will you join together and promote this Concert of Prayer? Our Nation depends on it. She is in great need. Why is America so divided? Surely it is not the cultural divisions that we have, for we have always been a Nation of various cultures, and this diversity has been at the core of our creativity as a Nation. It is not the divided shades of color with the people in this Nation, for at the core of each ethnic group in this Country is the same basic need for love, for safety, and for respect as a human being. All ethnic groups in this Country are in agreement with these needs, and they are fundamental values we know need to be protected by our Government, and by each citizen. Neither is it the absence of opportunity for the people of this Country. Never before have all citizens of this Country had such respect given to his or her citizenship, or his or her right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” with the exception of an unborn child's right to life. These other rights have not always been so. But great corrections of these injustices have been addressed, and we are more unified than ever in protecting these basic rights of American citizens. What has become divided in this Country though is its ideology, or at least the ideology of a few people who are trying to swing the rest of the Nation to its way of thinking, and this is causing the other rights to be slowly eroded away. Even so, though we might think that a political battleground is the issue, and to have a certain person or party in office is the answer, the truth remains there is a deeper problem and unless this is addressed, neither of the candidates will fix this Country's problems. We might think the outcome of the election spells doom to some and hope for others, but the truth is that if we don’t address the deep, hidden issues of what is really wrong in this Nation, we will not see the outcome of the elections change anything, and we all will suffer. What is wrong in America is less about the Government of the United States of America, and more about the Church within this Country. The Church’s neglect of our sacred responsibility to this Nation over the last years may very well be the reason our Nation is divided at present. But, the Church could also be God’s solution for bringing healing to our land. As followers of Christ, we are told in I Peter 2:9 that the Church is a “holy nation, a chosen people, a people belonging to God.” As God’s people we are a Nation within a Nation, and we should be the very heart and conscience of America. One time we were. Where are we now? The Church in America has a stewardship responsibility to nurture, protect and serve this Country by praying for her, and portraying a standard of integrity to its people. But, what kind of image do we now project to the citizens of this Country and other Nations? As God’s people, do we the Church reflect His heart and values? What do people see in His Church in America? As an example, do wevisit orphans and widows in their affliction, or keep our self unstained from the world? That is what scripture teaches as being pure religion. Sure, those are some things some churches may do very well … at times. But there are other things that stand out to the observer. How about the way Christains treat each other or even churches who speak critically about other churches? Do we love each other in the Church in America regardless of our denomination, race, or the way we express our worship to the King of Glory? You do understand a divided Country is looking at God’s people in churches, and if they see a divided congregation, or denominations divided from each other, anything we do or say will not be relevant to them, for we are disqualified in their eyes? Some say the recent generations in America see going to church as unnecessary, and its message irrelevant. Could it be because they are looking at similar divisions in our malfunctioning Government and the divisions within our social fabric and wonder how the Church can help? How can we the Church influence a divided Nation when the we are divided? As God’s people, can we not see how God’s Church can mend this Nation back together if we will mend ourselves back together, by being of one mind and heart and one purpose? Right now in this day and time and present need in this Country, can there be anything more deserving of one mind, and one mutual interest for God's people in this Nation than to draw close to our Father together and to pray, to humbly seek Him, and to allow Him to heal our Nation? But, are we willing to put our political agenda on hold, and go directly to God’s agenda which is to heal His family of our division first? It must start there. Are we willing to see the most important issue at hand is for God’s people to come together, to get right with each other and to get right before Him, so that He will heal our land. This is the invitation given by God to His people in I Chronicles 7:14. It is offered to His Church in America today. Will we take it? Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Jesus said,“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.” (Luke 11:17) I think we can see where Old Abe got his insight. This is in itself a telling story that the would be president of the United States in its most divided time in history as a Nation, was personally led by Jesus Christ, and the word of God was his source for leading this Nation. This leadership, and the courage to follow it, turned a Nation from its sickness and division into a Nation that was healed and made great. In this critical hour of need for this Nation, let us use this insight of Jesus and Lincoln to go to God’s wisdom and His word to find what our next step should be. It is time for God’s people in this Nation to pray. It is time to come together in a Concert of Prayer. Mark your calendars. On November 2nd at 12 noon, in your own time zone, we will gather to pray. Please pass this proclamation to your social network. We need to get the word out. Each week, I will share our progress towards this goal. The time is now for God’s Influencers to stand up. Download file