The current state of our nation Nigeria is such that it neither requires a description, nor can anyone in an attempt to describe it, make any exaggeration or over statement about how terrible and undesirable it is. However, the nation cannot derive any help from describing its state and as a matter of fact, it is not God’s desire or will for us to be defined by our challenges or state of our nation, but rather to be refined and come out healed.
Whereas, it is no news and
therefore no use to keep lamenting over the state of affairs of Nigeria, just
as the hymn writer says, weeping will not save us…, waiting will not save us…,
only faith in Christ will save us, even as we trust in the work that He has
done, as well as His words and promises to help us. While God is ever faithful
to His promises however, we have our own part to play and practical steps to
take, to have the changes we so desperately desire.
2 Chronicles 7: 14,
presents us with four of such clear practical steps. Verse 14 says, ‘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.’ From this singular verse, we have
a ready answer to the question of whether there is any room for divine
intervention in our national case. The question then is not if there is any
room, but the question is, when would the elects wake up to take our place in
the practical steps required of us, to have God do His part? The truth is that,
where we have our part to play, God would expect us to do so accordingly. We
can also see that God is not looking to the world but rather to His people, who
are called by His name, to do the needful as follows:
Step 1. ‘If my people, who are called by my name,
SHALL HUMBLE themselves…’ The humility
to acknowledge and accept our faults, our failings and wrongs, rather than
justifying ourselves and passing the bulk, is required. Without taking this
first crucial step, we may not be able to move on to the next, thereby staying
for much longer at the same spot of pain and suffering, marking time.’
Step 2.
‘If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and
PRAY…’ Prayer is the next step, in
which humility is to be applied, knowing that we need help from our God who
alone can help us, as the covenant keeping and prayer answering God. Prayer is
the key, by which to unlock the heaven’s door to the store of our needs. Prayer
is the staff, by which the Christian walks with God.
Step 3. ‘If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray and SEEK MY FACE…’ Prayer is a multi-dimensional thing. One of
the different dimensions of prayer is that it is petition. It is supplication
or requisition. Prayer is a conversation between a lesser being and a supreme
being (God), who is in position to answer and grant the need of the one
requesting. Therefore, it requires a humble seeking of God’s favour which
implies that it is out of the equation of entitlement.
Step 4. ‘If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS…’ This step implies that it is not enough to just pay mere lip service to humility, praying and seeking God’s face. It implies and involves a sincere change and genuine turnaround from the wrong path that has led to the current situation and the undesirable state that we have come to find ourselves, consequently. It is only when all these practical steps have been deliberately and intentionally taken that we can expect God to listen to us, hear us from heaven, forgive our sin, and heal our land, just as He has promised. This is also in line with the portion of the Bible that says, when our obedience is complete, then God will avenge all disobedience on our behalf 2Corinthians 10:6. Isa59:1-2 says, ‘God’s hand is not short and His ears not dull to hear, but our sin…’
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