Day 1—“If…then”

(2 Chronicles 7:14)
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.

We’ve never begun a season of 21 Days of Prayer when we more desperately need God to hear us from heaven and heal our land. COVID-19, injustice, anger, and division all threaten us. All of us know people personally who are battling for their lives, their health, their businesses, for financial survival, or their emotional health. As Jesus warned us, the thief has come to steal, kill, and destroy.

2 Chronicles 7:14 is a prayer of hope being sounded out around the world. God has promised that he will hear from heaven and heal our land! But only “IF”…

God’s love for us may be unconditional, but most of his promises are not, including 

2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people…then I…”  Although many of the promises don’t have the words “if” and “then” in them, it’s still very clear that the promises are conditional…

(If you) Draw near to God, (then) he will draw near to you (James 4:8). 

(If you) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse…(then) I will open the windows of heaven (Malachi 3:10)

(if you) Give, (then) it will be given to you. (Luke 6:38)

“If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14)

By the way, God doesn’t add conditions to promises to make us earn them; he makes them conditional to change and grow us!

Let’s use these 21 days to make sure we as God’s people meet the conditions of 2 Chronicles 7:14—that we have humbled ourselves, are praying and seeking him, and turning away from anything in our lives that is contrary to his will for us. 

And whatever other promise you are believing God to fulfill, search the scripture and make sure you’re meeting all the conditions connected to that promise.