Heal Our Land. But first, Abba, heal our own hearts.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 “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 can’t help but look around me and see the beautiful healing that is taking place all around us right now. 

Take a moment. Look around you. Do you see things healing? Do you see how the physical land is able to breath? Do you see how you are able to breath? Are you learning to slow down and rest? Are you finding what actually is meaningful and of value to you? Are you actually pausing? Pondering? Processing? Praying? Are you allowing your soul to not only rest from the craziness that we sometimes get caught up in during our day to day life, but to actually heal and be replenished by God? 

God desires to heal our land. I believe that He wants to do this in the physical – our bodies and our environment. I also believe that God wants to heal our systems. Our government. Our economy. Our education systems. The Church. He wants to heal our families. In order for these things to be healed, I believe He is first inviting each of us into healing as individuals. 

As I am sitting here writing this, I am reminded of the fact that healing is a process. It’s a journey. Often times long. Often times painful. Often times uncomfortable. But always worthwhile. God works in mysterious ways. I think that this could very well be a season of much needed rest for the nations.

Good farmers let their fields rest in certain seasons and plant seeds in those fields to renew the soil. Farmers care about their land. They plant seeds that bring about nutrients to the soil so that in the seasons to come, the land will be healthy and will be able to produce and multiply. Farmers let their fields pause and rest so that they can be rejuvenated and replenished. So that their fields are whole and full of the good things that they need. 

I can’t help but be moved to tears to think about how much God must care for us that He invites us into healing. The biggest blessing about pursuing healing in my own life has been that it has enabled me to live a more full, whole and abundant life. I seriously experience life in a whole new way because of the healing God has guided me through! 

A dear friend recently shared two amazing songs with me. I encourage you to listen to them! 

“He Has Time,” by Common Hymnal, is such a beautiful song because it reminded me of how healing begins as such a personal journey before the effects trickle down. I think that in order for systems to be healed, individual human beings need to heal first because after all, we are the beings that make up these systems. One of my favorite things that Pastor Michael Todd always shares is that God cares so much more about the organism than the organization. 

If Jesus is indeed inviting us into a time + space of healing as individuals, then what a sweet sweet reminder it is that He holds our hands through the entire journey.

Jesus runs after the broken ones, weeping with those who weep. 

He’s not in a rush, He has time for your healing

Lean on His shoulder

It’s never too late and your story’s not over 

I love this second song, “Heal Our Land,” by Kari Jobe. These lyrics get me…

You take, our lives

flawed yet beautiful

restore, refine

Lord you’re merciful

redeem, revive 

I love these lyrics because they’re so personal. Imagine these lyrics like a prayer directly between you and God. This prayer is asking for restoration, refinement, redemption and revival in one’s own life. 

I love where the song goes next… it goes from the organism to the organization. I imagine the prayer expanding from just the one being to the entire Body of Christ. 

Spirit of God

Breath on Your church

Pour out Your presence

Speak through Your word

We pray in every nation, 

Christ be known

Our hope and salvation, Christ alone

If our systems are to heal, we are first to be healed as individuals. The Lord our God has so much in store for us (as individuals + organizations) when we seek Him and invite Him to heal our hearts, so that our hearts become more like His. He will make us to be more whole, living in His fullness + abundance of life, just as He is the embodiment of wholeness, fullness + abundance.

I think that this process of healing as individuals will multiply health in our land. Think of all the groups that you make up, the systems you are part of. Living out of a heart that is aligned with the Lord’s leads to blessing and favor not only for you, but for those around you, and also for the generations to come. 

“The Blessing” by Kari Jobe, Cody Caries + Elevation worship says this:

May His favor be upon you

And a thousand generations

And your family and your children

And their children, and their children

 

“Heal our land” I know is the cry of our hearts right now. I believe “Heal our land” is also a call to action. Choosing to step into the healing of our own hearts means alignment with God’s. A heart that is united to God’s heart can easily be united to other’s hearts who are also being aligned with God’s heart. Unity among people means unity within our systems that will leave a lasting impact for the generations to come. A blessing that is upon a thousand generations.

That is revival. 

 

Listen to all of the songs here! 

He Has Time https://open.spotify.com/track/5xkbTkNpx1Iva9LgqM65jr?si=D7T6CLprSY2Gmw-XSQL10A 

Heal Our Land https://open.spotify.com/track/51RuKnh1Fec9pZtKOVbO28?si=4QAWnwSMTC24hG_ahTIvsA 

The Blessing https://open.spotify.com/track/2elEVvWjPZltkotzcCwKvM?si=AsfiOXEYQc2GR_K9XgMEow