Growing up with three siblings – two brothers and a sister – was pretty eventful. There was never a dull moment. As the second in command, by way of birth, I often enjoyed teasing my oldest brother when he got in trouble with our parents, especially when it involved me. I would taunt him, relentlessly, with my little-sister banter, “That’s what you get!” . He couldn’t stand it. It was my way of letting him know he deserved the consequences of his actions. He would tell me a thing or two, sometimes, but other times he was silent. I learned later that his silent response was the result of wisdom.

We are living in days where trouble pops up like kernels in a bag of popcorn in the microwave; it’s not synchronized and as soon as we think it’s done, another kernel of trouble pops up.  Heaven forbid we take our eyes and ears away from the popcorn – it quickly becomes in danger of burning, the entire bag! Without question, we have turned our eyes and ears away from God. A bold statement? Yes! A harsh statement? No! God is clear in His appeals and promises to His children. “Then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 The Living Bible) As Christians, we often focus on the prayer component of that scripture; however, we seem to miss the seeking and turning component. The scripture illuminates that after we are humbled in prayer, seek God and turn from our wicked ways – THEN –He will hear us, forgive our sins and heal our land. Our land is in need of healing and God continues to reach out to a dying world, reminding us of His saving light. God says,

“I’ve made myself available
    to those who haven’t bothered to ask.
I’m here, ready to be found
    by those who haven’t bothered to look.
I kept saying ‘I’m here, I’m right here’
    to a nation that ignored me.
I reached out day after day
    to a people who turned their backs on me,
People who make wrong turns,
    who insist on doing things their own way.” (Isaiah 65:1-2, The Message Bible)

Subsequent verses in Isaiah 65 describe God’s judgment on those who choose to continue to ignore Him and offer hope and reward to those who choose God and His ways. There are consequences to our actions! Wisdom desperately wants to make a grand entrance in our daily decisions. Let us become silent to our intellect and might, so that we can hear and do what our heavenly Father says, dressed in His anointing. Our healing depends on it!

Lord, I humble myself in prayer to You this day, surrendering to You and You only. My desire is to seek You and Your ways, turning from my wicked ways – all things that are displeasing in Your eyesight. I release the desire to be right, to have the last word and I release the desire to seek vengeance. I renounce all behavior that flirts with eternal fire, in the mighty name of Jesus. Please forgive me of my sins. I love you Lord! You are worthy to be praised! Thank you for my life. Thank you for this moment. Hear my prayer, oh Lord. Let your healing flow in my life and in the land. Walk with me, never leave me nor forsake me. In the Marvelous and Matchless name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Prayer works! Pray humbly and steadfastly and watch God move in our midst. We can do this!