Day Thirty Two
Collin Huber
I am Collin Huber. I am a senior at UT majoring in Government. I love listening to good music, watching good movies, and reading good books any chance I get. C.S. Lewis anyone? One interesting detail about me is I was home-schooled my entire life from kindergarten through 12th grade. And, amazingly enough, I still have social skills and many friends! ;-)
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Key Verse: "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." |
God is faithful to respond to a humble and repentant heart.
In reading this passage, I notice two profound truths that are central to belief in Christ. The first of these truths hinges on our response to the sin in our lives. Because we are human, we will always have "wicked ways" in our hearts that can only be healed if they are lifted up to God in repentance. Otherwise, they will ultimately lead to destruction. It is never easy to humbly admit that our hearts are wicked, but that is a truth of scripture (Jeremiah 17:9). Our hearts are full of depravity and need repentance and if we do that, God will respond in forgiveness and healing.
The second truth in this passage is a hopeful response to the potential feelings of despair which Satan wants us to fall prey to when we realize the depths of our depravity. God loves sinners and calls them to Himself. When we see sin in our lives, we should run to Him for safety and healing because that is what He offers. God does not expect us to be perfect and He certainly is not sitting in Heaven waiting to strike us with bolts of lightning when we stumble. Our deep hope is that God is the physician waiting with great patience to heal our sickness (Luke 5:31-32) and He wants only to take from our lives that which would eventually destroy us. This is the truth of the gospel - that we are all sinners who actively seek things apart from God (i.e. "wicked ways"), yet in all of His righteous glory, our Father in Heaven offers forgiveness and healing for our disobedience out of the overflow of His heart. God loves a repentant heart, so turn to Him humbly in all things. He is near and He is always listening.
1. What does this passage mean when God calls us to "humble" ourselves in prayer and why is this necessary?
2. How does being humble change the way we repent to God?
3. What sin are you struggling with in your life and how would God's desire to forgive it and heal it change the way you live if you let Him do that?
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