by Shauna Millar | Apr 24, 2024 | Fruits of the spirit, prayer
Last year it seemed everywhere I turned or looked, the following verse was appearing:
2 Chronicles 7:14
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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.
I think we need to look at this verse and break it down a little more. “If my people who are called by My name…” As Christians, we are God’s people, grafted into the family and we call ourselves – Christians meaning “follower of Christ.” Therefore, we recognize that this verse is speaking to all believers. Not just the Jews, but also those of us who are adopted into the Kingdom through our faith and belief in Jesus Christ.
The next part of the verse seems pretty harmless, “will humble themselves and pray and seek my face…” Here is where we may start getting in trouble, the praying part is pretty straightforward. It is our communicating with God. Yet the second part, “humbling ourselves” is not something that we do easily. Having humility. Having a servant’s heart. Recognizing we are not better than anyone else and therefore we are so much more in need of what Christ has offered us with the fruits of the spirit. [Gentleness, goodness, joy, kindness, long-suffering, love, peace and self control.] We need to not only pray, but humble ourselves and seek (crave, require as a necessity) God’s face.
Finally, “and turn from their wicked ways..” What? His people, called by His name, have wicked ways? Yes, we are all sinners and have fallen short. When we accept Christ, we still have to take action to change the things that we continue to do that go against God’s word. Perhaps, that is why the Bible tells us we are to ‘meditate on His word day and night’ Joshua 1:8 and to ‘study to show yourself approved’ 2 Timothy 2:15. Christ gives us examples of how we are to walk: not only that, but He led by example.
Finally, if we do all these things, then He “will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land”. This is pretty straightforward, and is often where we leave it. However, we need to continue on with the scripture a bit because what follows is just as important. It is what happens if we don’t do what is in verse 14.
19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, 20 then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.
21 “And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, Why has the LORD done thus to this land and this house?’ 22 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.’” 2 Chronicles 7:19-22
We receive the promise of our land being healed when we humble ourselves, pray and seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways. The bible doesn’t leave it there. It tells us the price if we don’t. I will bottom line it for you: He will allow calamity to fall, He will let our lands become uprooted and we will see more idol worship, more destruction, more of what we are seeing in the world around us affecting our daily lives.
People like to “blame God” for what is going on. Yet, the Word tells us that there is a consequence for not doing what He asks of us. How many times did one man have to stand in the gap when God’s people rebelled against His word? The Israelites didn’t wander in the desert for 40 years because they obeyed the Lord’s commandments. They wandered because of their “stiff-necked” ways, disobedience against what God told them to do. This is a theme that is repeated throughout history.
If we want to change the direction of our lives and our country, then we need to stand in the gap, humble ourselves and pray, turn from our wicked ways, seek God’s face and THEN He will heal our land. Do you want things to change? Go before God, seek Him with a humble heart, and ask Him to show you where you need to improve. Ask Him to watch over and bless our country and show you how to be an active part in the transformation. Now, more than ever, the world needs Jesus.
by Shauna Millar | Dec 8, 2023 | faith
I would like to ask you a question: how do you your value yourself? How do you perceive what you are worth? On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate yourself? (One [1] being the lowest, ten [10] being the highest.) For most people, this is a difficult question to answer, and often when we answer, our value tilts to the lower balance of the scale. Why do you think that is? Perhaps it is because we are our harshest judges. If you asked this same question of someone else, how they value you, their number would oppose your own. More than likely, it would be on the upper end of the scale.
While we see ourselves through very judgemental eyes, others view us differently. They watch the way we treat others, how we interact in a variety of situations, if we go out of our way, if we put others before ourselves, and so much more. Yet, when we consider ourselves, we notice our flaws. The imperfections. This is the way we reason not allowing ourselves a higher ranking. Our measuring stick for ourselves and towards others vastly differs.
If someone we place a high value on, such as a parent, teacher, best friend, spouse, etc., treats us as if we aren’t valuable, then we knock ourselves down even more. We become more critical of who we are, what we are doing, and how we are doing it. This can lead to a spiral of depression, self-deprecation, and more. If they treat us better, we innately don’t feel that they are placing the right value on us. That their perception is skewed. Yet, the only value that we should concern ourselves with is the one God has given us.
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16 [Amplified Bible]
What an amazing thing that God holds us so precious and valuable that He sent His only son to pay for our sins! Can you imagine giving up your only child to die for someone else’s sin? Would you be willing to sacrifice your only child in order to save someone else?
Further, He cares for us so deeply that He knows every part of our fabric because He intentionally created us! He designed you with purpose!
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument],
And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own];
I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Have you ever watched a master artisan as they are working? They take their time to select the best materials for the job. They spend time planning, preparing and then forming their artistic piece with their hands, creating a unique and wonderful piece of art.
That is what we are! God has created every one of us, knowing who we would be and giving us the free will to come to Him in our time. He doesn’t force Himself on us.
“For You formed my innermost parts;
You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was being formed in secret,
And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. Psalms 139:15
God loves you! God loves me! He knows who we are, and He still puts such a high value on us that He sent His ONLY son to die for us in order to redeem us and make sure we would always be with Him! Wow! Think about how amazing that is! You are valuable and important. Sometimes, we need to step back from what we are feeling or thinking about and look at it from another perspective.
The next time you want to de-value yourself, that you think you aren’t worth anything, stop listening to negative words from man and remember the value God has placed on you. Remember that you are both planned and chosen. That you are not a mistake but a beautifully crafted individual created with purpose! How cool is that?
by Shauna Millar | Oct 14, 2023 | encouragement, hope
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” -Jeremiah 1:5
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” -Psalms 139:13 -16
God knows everything about me! He deliberately created me. He intentionally created you! What does that mean? Intentionally is defined as “deliberately; on purpose.” Ask any craftsman about a piece of work they have created and they will remember it. It takes time to create a piece of art. You are a piece of art. You are unique and loved. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” -John 10:14
We need to stop listening to the voices all around us. The ones who know nothing about us. We can’t let people “bully” us into thinking we are worthless. We can’t allow their opinions to become our facts. The fact is, you are special. The fact is God loves you so much that He created you with a purpose, with intent. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you on the cross to ensure He would be with you for eternity.
He didn’t just create you, though. No, He didn’t stop there – He made sure that He had a plan for YOUR life. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. Wow! Plans for prosperity, hope, and a future! You are valuable! Not feeling that way? Perhaps it is time to seek God and get to know Him better. Maybe it is time to put down the plans you have made for your life and pick up the ones He has for your life. There is nothing in this life that God won’t go through with you in this life.
In the realm of current events, we often witness nations embroiled in conflicts and the suffering of individuals. This inevitably prompts the question: Where does God fit into all of this? Some may even point fingers at God, but it’s important to note that this isn’t His doing. God granted us the gift of free will. This means we have the liberty to either align ourselves with the path He’s laid out for us or impose our own desires and wishes, not only on our lives but also on others.
The real question is, do you acknowledge and accept this? God foretold that life would be fraught with trials and tribulations, but He assured us that He wouldn’t abandon us. Consider the story of Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel, a devoted servant of God, faced the terrifying prospect of being thrown into a den of lions. It’s crucial to understand that these were no ordinary, docile lions; they were creatures deliberately deprived and provoked, manipulated for the amusement of those in positions of power. This act was a form of punishment; it was equivalent to being sentenced to the ultimate capital punishment.
Yet, what happened? God was there in the lion’s den WITH Daniel. He didn’t allow harm to come to Him. He had plans for Daniel and Daniel believed that no matter where He was, God was in charge.
How about being thrown into a fiery furnace as happened to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? What happened? There was a fourth person in the fire with them! God was there! There are times, however, that God’s people will go through and there will be death and destruction. There will be a senselessness in what is going on. I believe all things work for the good of those who love the Lord. That all things happen according to His will and purpose, even if we can’t see it.
Just like God was with Daniel, and with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – He is with us. He loves you. He loves me. A man may fail and let you down, but God never will. He will provide for you. Seek Him. Know Him. Trust Him.
Prayer:
Lord,
You know our hearts. You know our situation. You know when we are hurting and when we are celebrating. Father, I ask that You just continue to be with us. That You continue to watch over us and remind us that we are loved. I ask that You bless those who are feeling down and forgotten. I pray for those who may feel dismayed and may be contemplating ways to disappear. I ask that You touch them. That You send your angels to watch over and keep them. Wrap Your wings around them and let them feel the safety and shelter of Your love. I ask that You touch them so they come to know You and understand that they are always loved and wanted. That You never forget us. That You are always with us.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
by Shauna Millar | Aug 22, 2023 | Book Review, faith, Trust
I would like to extend a personal invitation to you to acquire my new 30-day devotional! I am thrilled about the chance to open up a portion of my journey following the loss of my husband. God’s love for us is boundless, and His unwavering presence is a comfort. This devotional was crafted with the intention of guiding you through one day at a time, helping you contemplate God’s love and develop unwavering trust in Him, regardless of the circumstances.
I have written on trust in various blog posts, this devotional is a personal journey I took and am inviting you to come along with me.
Let me know what you think!
by Shauna Millar | Jun 28, 2023 | encouragement, General, hope
One moment can change our entire lives. It can change the direction we were heading in and put us on a fresh path. It can turn our lives upside down. Sometimes those moments are significant – such as accepting Christ into our lives. Sometimes those moments are horrifying ones, like the death of a loved one. Or beautiful, like the birth of a child. However, what all these moments have in common are the “after” effects. What comes after a life-changing moment? The breath of “what’s next” or “now what?” The path we find ourselves on also comes with decisions that we will have to make.
How do I choose to raise my child? How can I move forward after losing someone I love? How will I become a person worthy of Christ dying on the cross for me? What can I do to make the world a better place in the next moment? We live moment to moment, decision to decision, breath to breath. What we make of our world is based on our choices. They are a gift freely given. Yet, everything comes with a cross. Jesus paid a price for our sins. There is always a “price” for everything that is “free”. Even though Christ chose to die for us [Titus 2:14], to give us a clean slate, He paid the price. His life was the cost for our sins to be washed away. His life was what it took for us to have a “clean slate” in God’s eyes. Jesus had a choice.
We want to be worthy. We want to do our best. We want to follow the path that is set before us. It is HARD. We will not always make the right decisions; we will fail, and make mistakes, and yet still we can move forward. We can learn from our mistakes. Doing better than we did before. Every time you fail doesn’t mean you should give up. It simply means there was a lesson to be learned so we don’t fall into the same pattern of behavior again. Yet, we are also our deepest critics. We judge ourselves harshly, beat ourselves over the head, throw down, and pound the ground. We want to use it as an excuse to give up, not move forward, as the reason “nothing good ever happens” and “why it can’t be done”.
It does not mean our mistakes and failures happen for this purpose. They are there to allow us to see what we did wrong and how we can improve. God gave us the gift of forgiveness. He gave us the gift of making us “whiter than snow” [Isaiah 1:18] not so we can roll around in the dirt, but so we can move forward with boldness. We can choose to cling to the past or we can step forward in faith and strength. The decision is ours. Though, it is often easier to wallow in misery than to lift our heads and move forward.
Why isn’t our faith enough? For some reason, there is a mistaken belief that once you accept Christ into your life, everything will be easier. It is not easy to choose to follow Christ. The path is narrow for a reason. Human nature dictates that we take a wide path. The one that’s trampled and paved for what seems like an easier, smoother journey. The question is, who paved that path? Why is it easier? We can look throughout history to see the persecution of Christians. No one likes to be persecuted. No one wants to deal with hardships and difficulties. You would think after 2,000 years that Christians would have it easier. Yet, throughout the world, we continue to see Christians being oppressed or blamed for the ills of the world. For standing up for the truth against the masses.
In today’s society, it is even less popular to be a Christian. Or to be any person who has a moral compass, especially in the U.S., where the world has been turning into everything the Bible warns about. No one aspires to be harassed, attacked, or “canceled out” based on their belief system. Yet, the world says it is okay to do that to followers of Christ, but not to those who would prey on our children. The world says it is better to make children a victim than to allow Christians to stand firm in their faith. Most religions in the world don’t face the same type of persecution that Jews and Christians do. Why? Perhaps this is something to think about.
We cannot afford to not stand firm. We need to speak the truth and pray for people to receive what is being said. Just because you speak out against sex in schools or force children to attend pride celebrations in schools doesn’t mean that you are incorrect. Remember, some of us will prepare the ground, while others will plant, water, and still others will harvest. God called us to be a light set upon a hill. He called us to follow His word and His will. He called us to meditate on the Word day and night [Joshua 1:8] so that we may show ourselves approved [2 Timothy 2:15]. He has told us to hide the word in our hearts. [Psalms 119:11]
One moment, standing in front of the school board and speaking the truth, could be the thing that changes the direction. Remember, it started with one woman who took prayer out of school. One woman started the abortion movement and got Roe v Wade instilled. Last year, (2022) in a historical moment the Supreme Court gave the power back to the states.
Things can and will change. We must do our parts. We need to remember that every moment matters and what we do with each one of them. You may be the one person who starts the next movement of positive change.
