God’s One And Only Method Of Restoration….

Restoring one’s wholeness with God isn’t complicated. What is it He wants from us? In 2 Chronicles chapter 6 we read one of Solomon’s prayers. It’s his dedication prayer when the Temple was finished being built. The wisest man to ever to live (aside from Jesus) tells us that we are fallible. When consequences happen to us, due to our own volition, we are to turn back (repent), acknowledge Gods name, and pray. Following the right path is what life is all about. Getting off-track happens, but that’s when we have to get right back on it and continue to follow that path. Scripture has always been clear on what God wants from us. He wants our attention, our devotion, our longing for and dependence upon Him, in Him alone. We have to learn to be independently dependent upon Him. When we mess up, we must realize it (acknowledge it), repent (turn away from continuing that behavior), and get back on track with God. When we turn to God with our whole hearts, He hears our prayers, and upholds our cause. This is the well established pattern God has given us. It’s not so much about trying to live above making mistakes, rather it’s about knowing what to do when you make a mistake. As I’ve always said, “The only thing wrong with making a mistake, is not learning from it.” God has granted us grace, and it’s up to us to learn how to apply it to our lives. It always starts with God’s one and only method of restoring us back to Him: acknowledge your sin, repent, and seek Him with your whole heart. He will always respond to this behavior with pleasure because it brings Him great honor when we are obedient to His call. It’s really not complicated, yet it’s difficult to do when we have a “me first” attitude.

24 “If Your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against You, and if they turn back and acknowledge Your name and pray to You here in this Temple, 25 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of Your people Israel and return them to this land You gave to them and to their ancestors.26 “If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because Your people have sinned against You, and if they pray toward this Temple and acknowledge Your name and turn from their sins because You have punished them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of Your servants, Your people Israel. Teach them to follow the right path, and send rain on Your land that You have given to Your people as their special possession.28 “If there is a famine in the land or a plague or crop disease or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if Your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns–whatever disaster or disease there is–29 and if Your people Israel pray about their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple, 30 then hear from heaven where You live, and forgive. Give Your people what their actions deserve, for You alone know each human heart. 31 Then they will fear You and walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land You gave to our ancestors.32 “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to Your people Israel will hear of You. They will come from distant lands when they hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, 33 then hear from heaven where You live, and grant what they ask of You. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear You, just as Your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors Your name.34 “If Your people go out where You send them to fight their enemies, and if they pray to You by turning toward this city You have chosen and toward this Temple I have built to honor Your name, 35 then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause.36 “If they sin against You–and who has never sinned?–You might become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far away or near. 37 But in that land of exile, they might turn to You in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ 38 If they turn to You with their whole heart and soul in the land of their captivity and pray toward the land You gave to their ancestors–toward this city You have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor Your name–39 then hear their prayers and their petitions from heaven where You live, and uphold their cause. Forgive Your people who have sinned against You. 2 Chronicles 6:24-39