Some time later, God spoke to Azariah son of Oded. At once, Azariah went to Asa and said:
Listen to me, King Asa and you people of Judah and Benjamin. The Lord will be with you and help you, as long as you obey and worship him. But if you disobey him, he will desert you.
For a long time, the people of Israel did not worship the true God or listen to priests who could teach them about God. They refused to obey God's Law. But whenever trouble came, Israel turned back to the Lord their God and worshiped him.
There was so much confusion in those days that it wasn't safe to go anywhere in Israel. Nations were destroying each other, and cities were wiping out other cities, because God was causing trouble and unrest everywhere.
2 Chronicles 15:1-6
Replace the word "Israel" with the name of your country in verses 3 and 4 and then read them again.
"For a long time, the people of the United States did not worship the true God or listen to men (priests) who could teach them about God. They refused to obey God's law. But whenever trouble came, the United States turned back to the Lord their God and worshiped Him."
Do you remember the days after the 9-11 attack? Members of Congress gathered on the steps of the Capitol to sing "God bless America" and there was a temporary rush to go back to church. There were even national newscasters who called the nation to prayer! But that turn back to God only lasted a few days, weeks or months at best. Then we were back to our old ways of banning God from as much of our lives as we possibly could.
The lesson we should learn from 9-11 is truly sobering. God wants the people of the United States to turn their hearts back to Him before trouble comes again. But His desire for our hearts is so strong that He is willing to let us suffer greatly if that is what it takes to lead us back to Him.
Consider the price that the United States (or your nation) has paid, is paying and will pay for standing against God and His Word. There is no doubt that we will be called back to God and that "calling" may be much more painful than 9-11!
For your sake and the sake of everyone who lives in your nation turn your heart back to God today! You will never regret letting Jesus Christ be the Lord of your life.
"Dear Jesus, we have turned away from You and tried to tell You how much influence You can have in our country. We have told You that Your righteousness could come as a sprinkle of rain or at most a light shower. But Lord let Your righteousness come as a down pour and then as a flood across our land. And may You, Jesus be praised and glorified forever. Amen."
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