Forgiveness

Forgiveness

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 heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

When something isn’t quite right with my child’s knee, causing pain, irritation, and limited motion, I’m grateful when the doctor can take measures to help the knee function well again. It’s also like that with our hearts, which are often in need of mending. God has given us steps we can take to promote healing and wholeness for the innermost parts of our souls.

The first thing God asks us to do is humble ourselves. When we take this posture before God, we remind ourselves that he is God and we are not. We come to him as needy human beings, admitting that we fall short of his righteous standards.

The second step we take is to pray. We call out to God for help that only he can give. Whether we are asking forgiveness for our own heart or asking for help in showing forgiveness to another, God’s grace comes only from him—not from within ourselves.

God also asks us to seek his face. Seeking God is more than having a casual interest in him. It’s similar to going on a hunt—pursuing something wholeheartedly. The place for us to start is God’s Word, where he reveals himself to us.

Serious seeking prompts us to turn from things that don’t please God, because his Spirit comes alongside us and shows us areas of our lives where we need to do some about-faces. As we take these steps God has given us, he is faithful to forgive us and heal us.

Father,

May we experience forgiveness and healing through humbling ourselves, praying, seeking your face, and turning from sin. Amen.