Benita

Good Morning, Please join me for a daily scripture break. II Chronicles 7:14: "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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” As many of you have been invoking this verse on behalf of our nation, today is Election Day in the United States. Thank you so much for offering this prayer to our Lord.  I encourage every American who is legally eligible to vote to do so. Please take a moment and review some of the foundational scriptures that surround our Christian duty to exercise the rights and privileges of our citizenship that so many fought and died for on behalf of future generations.  It is sobering to contemplate that God does all of the "heavy lifting", especially His glorious promises to us if we obey His Word.  As a Christian we should be informed of God’s promises, what our own Christian responsibilities are towards God’s gifts to us (including our homeland), and strive to fully understand those gifts despite the dismissive nature of the world towards God. And finally we must reflect upon the consequences awaiting a disobedient nation. I.  God Desires These Promises for His Children. 1. Psalm 33:12 - "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He chose for His inheritance.” 2. Psalm 37:3 - "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” 3. Psalm 127:1 - "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.” 4. II Chronicles 20:15 - "He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s'.” It doesn't matter who the enemy is; it is God's battle to protect us and our nation. We must believe that because the world doesn't. 5. Psalm 46:1 - "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” 6. Deuteronomy 11:12 - "It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” 7. Isaiah 54:17 - "no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.” 8. Psalm 121:7-8 - "The Lord will keep you from all harm— He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” 9. Psalm 67:4 - "May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.” 10. Acts 17:26 - "From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” II.  The Body of Christ responsibilities. 1. II Chronicles 7:14 - "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 I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2. I Timothy 2:1-2 - “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” 3. Psalm 91:2 - "I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 4. Deuteronomy 28:1 - "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all His commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth.” 5. Leviticus 25:18 - “Follow My decrees and be careful to obey My laws, and you will live safely in the land.” III.  The Consequences Awaiting A Disobedient Nation. Please pay very close attention. God doesn't ignore sin - unrepented sin has consequences and that applies to everyone, even Christians. 1. Isaiah 60:12 - "For the nation or kingdom that will not serve You will perish; it will be utterly ruined.” 2. Psalm 9:17 - “The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God.” 3. Proverbs 14:34 - "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” 4. Isaiah 1:28 - "But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish.” 5. Jeremiah 2:19 - "Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of Me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” 6. Deuteronomy 28:20 - "The Lord will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking Him." There are countries around the world who are completely oblivious to these warnings by choice or by ignorance. Moreover, those who abandon or reject the Lord will not inherit the Kingdom of God. No matter the results today, our nation will need us to pray; to intercede on behalf of our nation.  We have a responsibility to sincerely obey God’s Word with regards to the nation we live in and enjoy.  Keep God's promises to the faithful before your eyes. Pray these promises back to our Lord with thanksgiving and praise. Please retain this post as a reminder for us to pray as God asked of us. Praise the Name of the Lord. God bless you. Peace and be prepared.