This verse has long been used to gain perspective on coming back to God. The context is the people of God in the Old Testament, but the principles are still true for New Testament Christians. Let’s take each line as a guide for praying for God to birth a revival in our hearts.
“If my people…humble themselves…”
1. Pray for believers in Jesus to humble themselves before a Holy God.
2. Pray for believers to walk out their lives with humble hearts and live with an understanding that pride leads to destruction and humility to honor in God’s eyes.
3. Pray for Christian husbands and wives will be humble in spirit with one another.
4. Pray for new Christians to be clothed with humility, respecting their elders, lifting their concerns before a great God and God will exalt them in the proper time.
5. Pray for God’s mercy during times of crisis and brokenness.
6. Pray for God’s people to take responsibility for the Gospel and the spiritual erosion of the world.
“…and pray…”
1. Pray for God’s people to unite in praying for all authority. May we live quiet and peaceful lives before a chaotic world.1.
2. Pray for believers to seek God each day before getting involved in the tasks and relationships of the day.
3. Pray for urgency and fervency in our prayers.
4. Pray that Christian’s first response to crisis to be prayer and not worry.
5. Pray that God would raise up an army of prayer warriors who are willing to stay focused in prayer.
6. Pray for a spirit of communication with God to spread like wild-fire across our world.
“…and seek My face…”
1. Pray for adult Christians to set a pattern of seeking the Lord in all things, as an example to younger Christians.
2. Pray for God to increase our faith, so we are willing to take “God-sized” risks for the sake of the Kingdom.
3. Pray that we would not trust in man-made strength, but in the hand of God.
4. Pray for Christians to not be self-sufficient, but completely rely on the Lord to meet our needs.
5. Pray for the people of God to set aside our differences and unite in desperate desire for God.
6. Pray for a healthy fear of the Lord to permeate our hearts.
“…and turn from their wicked ways…”
1. Pray for believers to meditate on the Word of God daily, drawing our wisdom and strength from the Lord alone.
2. Pray for God’s people to confess their sins being honest seeking forgiveness from God and others.
3. Pray that believers will accept accountability from godly people.
4. Pray for genuine repentance and Lordship to Christ.
“…then I will hear from heaven…”
1. Praise God that He saves people from their separation from God.
2. Pray for people to come close to God, so that he hears our prayers.
“…and will forgive their sin…”
1. Praise and Thank God for his forgiveness of sins.
“…and will heal their land.”
1. Praise God that he longs to bring ultimate healing to the world.
2. Pray that he gives us glimmers of hope and faith seeing people and places healed.
Keep praying for God’s mighty hand to sweep across our world!
What do you think?
