2 Chronicles 7:14, “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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

We all want God to step in and stop the craziness, but we must do our part.  We must strive to be more like Him and go deeper in our walk with Him.  We can all grow, none of us have reached a point where we have somehow “arrived”.  We need to ask Him every morning to give us clean hearts and the right attitudes.  We need to ask Him if there’s anything in our lives that needs to go or maybe needs to be added.  Be open to His leading in every area of your life, don’t hold anything back.  Don’t misunderstand here, I am not discarding God’s love for us and His mercy and grace, but so often we read this verse and stop at the “prayer” and don’t grasp all that needs to change in our lives!  

Isaiah 1: 15-20 says, “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening.  Your hands are full of blood!  Wash and make yourselves clean.  Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.  Learn to do right; seek justice.  Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.  Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord.  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson they shall be like wool.  If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.”

God has given us all so much grace but He is asking us to step up in our walk with Him.  He has promised to hear our prayers and forgive us when we ask to be forgiven, but we must ask for that forgiveness and we need to allow Him to lead us in every area of our lives.  His love and forgiveness are unconditional we all know that!  But, if we want His best in our lives we must give Him our best as well.  He is a Holy God!  He still cannot look at the wickedness that is going on.  

God loves you and wants a closer walk with you.  His desire is for more people to come to the knowledge of His saving grace.  Don’t settle for where you are in your walk with Him.  Ask Him to show you any areas that need His touch.  Ask Him to show you how to “spring clean” your walk with Him and focus on Him!  Ask Him to help you develop a passion for growing in your walk with Him.  He loves you and He wants you to trust Him knowing that as you grow in Him truly His best is yet to come in your life!

I would like to encourage you to spend some serious time with Him today.  Spend time in prayer and allow Him to speak into your life about what needs to change.  Ask Him what His dreams are for your life!  What is on His heart today?  How can you draw closer to Him and develop a closer relationship with Him?  Get excited!  He loves you and is asking you today to step up and walk closer with Him today!