2 Chronicles 7 – God’s Heartbeat

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 will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

If there’s one thing that has plagued the heart of God since our world’s creation it is this: He can’t stand to be so far away from the humans He loves. So when King Solomon built a Temple for God to dwell in, God couldn’t stand to be apart from a place where He was invited to live. He came and filled the Temple with the bright light of His glory, and sent fire from heaven to consume the many sacrifices. He appeared to Solomon the night of the dedication and told him that He’d be with them forever, so long as the people would follow Him.

“If my people who are called by my name”
You are literally called by the name of God—Christian.

“Will humble themselves”
Humility is a necessity for following God. As God’s people, we must be humble—teachable. Too often we are proud and think we’re following God’s ways, and we may even think that we are humble. The fact is, we can’t be humble unless God lives inside of us, and unless we allow Him to get rid of the un-Christ-like qualities that we all hold onto.

“And pray”
Ask, said Jesus, and it will be given to you.

“And seek my face”
Too often we find fulfillment in empty things, things that feel good, but aren’t satisfying. Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink! And from him will flow streams of living water!” What else is there to seek—to intensely look for? I can’t think of anything more important to do during my day than to seek God’s face in every activity in which I participate.

“And turn from their wicked ways.”
Here’s the part we don’t like to think about; but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. In order to live a life of service to God, to have Him be on your side, you must stop doing those things that break the heart of God—that heart that so longs to beat inside of your own.

There is good news today, my friends. God wants to place His living, beating heart into the cavity where your heart sits. He wants to live through you, and help you turn away from your wicked ways, help you seek His face continually, help you to pray, and help you to humble yourself.

Won’t you let your heart beat to the beat of God’s heart today?

Hear the heart of heaven beating.
“Jesus Saves, Jesus Saves.”
—from Jesus Saves by Travis Cottrell and David Moffitt

Timmy Baze 😀

SCRIPTURE PORTIONS USED IN THIS DEVOTIONAL MARKED ESV WERE TAKEN FROM THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION, COPYRIGHT © 2001 BY CROSSWAY BIBLES, A DIVISION OF GOOD NEWS PUBLISHERS.