In Crisis Counsels this week we are focusing on God’s Word to King Solomon, telling him what to do when his people would encounter difficult times. II Chronicles chapter 7 says:

Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer . . . When the heavens are shut up so that there is no rain, or the locust devours the land, or pestilence comes among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

II Chronicles 7:12-14

In this midst of any crisis, the people are to “humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways.” The first elements in this series – to “humble ourselves, pray, and seek God’s face” – all have to do with bringing ourselves into connection with God. The final element refers to how we now should live – to turn from wicked ways. In the current awakening that is going on in our country over the longstanding issue of racial injustice, we see how hard it is for human beings to genuinely turn from their wicked ways. It has been more than a century and a half since the Civil War, and still our nation struggles to treat all people as truly equal and free. This is why we need prayer – bringing us the guidance and empowerment of God! May we look to God today with fervent prayer, authentic faith, and receptive hearts, so that God “will forgive our sin, and heal our land.”

If you missed Sunday worship, you can join with the recorded service of either the 9:30 or 10:30 worship hours at live.kentmethodist.org

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