If

If Reader: Jon Watson Date: 21st August 2022 Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:14 ------------------- Sometimes very small words are really important. The little word 'if' is one of these. In 2 Chronicles chapter 6, King Solomon used the word six or seven times in his prayer to God. But now in chapter 7, God uses the word as he answers Solomon's prayer. There are times when it is wrong for us to say to God "I will do such and such a thing for you if you will do this for me". We don't lay down conditions to God. It is God's place to lay down conditions to us. In this chapter 7 of 2 Chronicles God said to Solomon that when the land would suffer from drought or was attacked by a swarm of locusts or there was a plague among the people (and all of this was because they had sinned) then if the people prayed God would hear. This is a very important lesson for us to learn. We all sin in one way or another. This is true personally but also true at a national level. But if we repent and turn from our sin and pray, then God will hear from heaven forgive our sin and heal our land. How desperately we need to take that to heart at the present time! Our broken society needs to come to God, confess our sin, repent of it, and leave it. Only then can we expect God to forgive us and bless us. Prayer Dear Lord, give us a repentant heart and forgive our sin we pray. Amen.