If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Let’s see if I got this right. For true revival to come we need to humble ourselves and pray and seek God’s face and then we are to “turn from our wicked ways”. Now wait just a minute there! It like to have killed me to humble myself. Praying wasn’t too hard that is when I had time. Seeking God’s face is for sure a life long journey but I am game but to turn from my wicked ways?

Now I have been a Christian and going to church for 33 years. I tithe and give and love to help others, why I go on mission trips all over creation. You mean to tell me that I have to open my closet, the closet that I hide stuff in? Now I don’t mind commenting on other people’s closet but my own? What will people think of me if I come clean?

Proverbs 28:13 says, “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” But I am a saint, I leave a trail of feathers behind me when I walk, I give the best advice to those who are on the bottom and are having a hard time getting back up. They would never listen to me again!

Turn from my wicked ways? Now surely that will be an easy one. This step in getting revived is a piece of cake. Shoot, I don’t smoke, drink or cuss; I don’t cheat on my wife or steal from the company. I have to admit that I am a pretty good guy!

Well, I did slander my boss but he deserved it and the drug dealer up the road. Well, he doesn’t have a job, how else could he afford to live like that? And that time I looked twice at that woman wearing that revealing outfit, hmm brings cold chills all over me to think “how dare her”. And that time I lied when I said that I just looked twice and it was more like three or four times.

But isn’t this all just nitpicking? I am afraid not. The bible has said all along, “Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” And again, “But be you doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” And to know that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) it would do us good to examine ourselves closely and swing open the closet doors and “TURN FROM OUR WICKED WAYS”.

If we really want true revival in our lives we must take heed to all the steps God has laid out. You know it and I know it that real happiness and joy is being right with God and close enough to His side that we are touching. And if we do our part then God promises to do His part. He goes on to say….. (Oh no, I think I hear deer coming, I’m in the Penthouse typing this by the way, I’ll just have to finish later.)

Blessings,

alight