Tag: Turn

The LORD Will Come and Stay

What does it take for the LORD to come?

“13When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14if my people who are called by my name 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.” – 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV)

We have to earnestly “pray and seek” Him and His Face and “turn from their wicked ways” and then the LORD will come. So it is on us to get the LORD here. It is up to me and my full dependence on Him regardless of the circumstances. I am in charge of turning to the LORD and away from that which is evil. The LORD is always within earshot of me, and will come when I need Him, I only need to call on Him.

I think that we understand that part. Call on the LORD and He will come. But what is it that gets Him to stay with us. Well, it is the humbling of ourselves and surrendering to Him.I can and should call on Him when I need Him, yet it is up to me to reach out to Him and surrender to His glory for Him to come and stay.

“15Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. 16For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time” – 2 Chronicles 7:15-16 (ESV)

When I have devoted myself to the LORD, He will come and stay with me. Not just in earshot, but will be there walking with me for my entire journey in this world. I will have Him there to fend off the evil. He will comfort me and guide me and carry me and provide for me and bless me and fully ensure that I am taken care of in this world. It is up to me to turn to Him and away from evil and surrender to Him and he will come and stay with me.

What are you doing to get the LORD to come and stay? Are you keeping Him just within earshot? What if you were to surrender to Him so that He comes and walks with you, comforting you, guiding you, carrying you, providing for you, and blessing you?

Turn to One Another

The LORD is coming. This much is certain. I know that it is as the LORD has told me so in His Word. There will be death and destruction and all of the evil will be vanquished at His hand. Those who have turned to Him and accepted the salvation gift in their hearts will be spared this destruction. I will be turned to comfort in that time.

“5Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” – Malachi 4:5-6 (ESV)

I will not have to figure out where to turn for comfort, the LORD will take care of that. He will send the one to turn me. I will recognize the time to turn and will do so, to where they will comfort me and I will comfort them. I know that the verse above indicates fathers to children and children to fathers, yet I chose to believe that the LORD will ensure that the turning is to the one who will comfort and not specifically fathers and/or children. Just look at the verses below.

“16And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” – Luke 1:17-18 (ESV)

The thing is, we will be turned to one another for the comfort that will be needed in that time. We are not meant to be alone. We should be in community with one another for that comfort. I know that I am grateful for the men I study God’s Word with. Where we are together intimately for about 90 minutes a week, we can turn to one another for comfort any time. We are a community of believers and that community is strong in the LORD.

The LORD knows that we need comfort. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper and comfort while He prepares our place in heaven. And to go along with the Holy Spirit, He has provided us the community of believers to turn to as well. We must turn to one another for our comfort and/or when they need comfort themselves.

Where do you turn when you are in need of comfort? Are you turning to solitude to just deal with it? What if you were to turn to a community of others who believe as you do for comfort and love in your time of need?