I have always been inspired by the words of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” I have heard this passage taught for many years. I memorized it as a teen. I have taught from it myself, but this promise has never been more relevant and needed than in our world today.

The words of the following verses challenge us even more because they speak to the timeliness of God’s words and His eternal purposes for us: “My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy – a place where My name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to My heart” (2 Chronicles 7:15-16).

God is saying, “I am ready to hear your prayers now! I have chosen you – the temples of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19-20) – to be holy and set apart, separate from the sin of the world, with distinct ways of thinking and living that honor Me. When you do this as an individual follower of My ways and even as a people, I will always watch over you, for you are dear to My heart.”

What amazing words! What life-changing truth! This is how the Living God feels about you and me!

While I have believed these words and been inspired by them throughout the course of my life, I have also felt that the time was not yet for their complete fulfillment. I repeatedly felt that something else needed to happen and then this promise could reach its full reality here, today.

The words in a preceding verse explain why I have felt this way. 2 Chronicles 7:13 says, “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if My people …”

There is a reason verse 14 begins with the word “then.” It is because what precedes it is conditional to what follows it! And what does verse 13 say? “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. THEN if My people . . . “

God has done that! He has allowed the plague to come among us. Has it come as a form of judgment or awakening? Most likely both!

The power of this scripture for today is that the time of the fulfillment of 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 is NOW! It is upon us!  “At times, I might … send plagues among you, THEN if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”

THIS is the time! This is the time for us to humble ourselves before the Living God. This is the time for us to renew our altars and cry out to God. This is the time to live holy, for the One whom we serve is holy. This is the time to seek His face before and above all else on this earth. This is our time to turn wholeheartedly to God.

Verse 14 exhorts us to turn from our wicked ways. What wicked ways?

Self-sufficiency, self-affirmation, self-promotion, self-appeasement, self-edification, self-reliance and self-everything rather than placing God and His ways first. As John the Apostle said, “He (Christ) must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30). Seeking personal prestige, position, and human authority rather than complete and total surrender unto God. Living in lies and deceit. Sensuality and rampant sexual sin. Division among ourselves. Feelings of superiority. I could name more.

We must call these things what they are: sin that prevents a sustained move of the Holy Spirit that brings an authentic, purging revival and awakening. 

Now is the time to repent, to turn from ways that dishonor God and harm us and others. Now is the time to call out to the Living God. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek the LORD while you can find Hm. Call on Him now while He is near.” Now is the time to cry for mercy and to ask God to reveal the reality of who He is to us and the world.

“At times, I might … send plagues among you. Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy – a place where My name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to My heart” (2 Chronicles 7:13-16).

This is the time.