Read 2 Chronicles 7:13–14

Try turning on the nightly news and avoid hearing about yet another nation in turmoil, usually from within. Though the last great World War was fought decades ago, cultures and kingdoms continue to clash both from within and from without.

It’s a stunning fact of history that the average age of the world’s great civilizations has been approximately two hundred years. According to that reckoning, America is living on borrowed time. It doesn’t take a meteorologist to predict rain if the sky is black and drops are starting to fall. Neither does it take a prophet to predict future bondage if we are now a majority of apathetic and dependent people!

But as people of faith, we are not destined to wring our hands in despair and abandon all hope of experiencing the Lord’s favour on our country.

Here’s what may make the difference:

At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13–14)

The hope of our nation lies in the power and faithfulness of God. He can be moved to show mercy to all of us when we call out to Him in prayer and turn back to Him in genuine humility and full repentance. It starts when you and I bow before Him in complete submission, acknowledging that His way is always best and following His lead instead of our own wicked ways. Take time today to seek His face.

Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord...Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved.

The full devotional can be purchased at https://www.tyndale.com/p/good-morning-lord-can-we-talk/9781414380681.