Turn it Around

"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."
- II Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

Solomon's temple was finally complete. The work of 70,000 laborers,
80,000 stone cutters and 3,600 foremen was all finished. Pure gold
covered parts of the interior. Precious inlaid stones sparkled.
The Ark of the Covenant inhabited the Holy of Holies. Only the
presence of God was missing. So Solomon prays "Now arise, O LORD God,
and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. May your
priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, may your saints rejoice
in your goodness." (II Chronicles 6:41).

And how did God respond? " . . . And the glory of the LORD filled the
temple." (II Chronicles 7:1). The people fell on their faces
declaring, "He is good; His love endures forever." (II Chronicles 7:3).
After fifteen days of celebration Solomon retreated to his place.

But God wasn't finished speaking. God knows our tendency to forget
His blessings and go our own way. Take a close look around. The
conditions that preceded the fall of every great civilization are in
place. Can our world be saved? Yes! How?? See what God has said:

(1) "If my people, who are called by My name." We must turn from
self-promotion to God promotion.

(2) "Will humble themselves and pray." We must turn from
self-reliance to God reliance.

(3) "And seek My face." We must turn from self-direction to
God-direction.

(4) "And turn from their wicked ways." We must turn from
self-indulgence to self-examination.

When will God heal our land? When His people turn back to Him!

If the terrain tells you you've made a wrong turn, it's time to make a
right one. And if you take a close look around you, you can see we've
been traveling through some rough terrain, and it's getting rougher
every day.

God's people can turn it around. And that turn begins with you.