I have quoted this verse many times. But I never really understood the words till I heard someone preach on it. It meant so much more after I heard what each word said to me and just had to share it. I hope it can bring some light to you too. But lately I have been praying earnestly for an awakening. Many people call themselves Christians but are they Christ like? People who are not Christians are watching us. Unless they see us as different or special why would they want to be one. If we live an ineffective life and are unsatisfied ourselves what kind of example are we. God has shown me that so much more is required than praying for our country to be changed. So I decided that just like there are many Bible translations I would rewrite this amplified. So I will elaborate. ‘If my people,’ this at one time meant the Jewish people. They were known as God’s people. He had special things for them, his special people. The promised land was a good and rich land where they would be free to worship God the way he wanted. Because they were his people they should want to spend time with him. Especially after all they saw him do for them. And in such mighty and awesome ways. We in America have been richly blessed. We are free to serve our God however we want. Our founding fathers knew how important that was. That’s why the pilgrims came here. But we have not cared for this gift. ‘who are called by my name,’ These we’re not just any people. These people had a calling on their lives. God doesn’t call everyone. There are some who will never accept God. No matter what he does or who he is there is just evil in this world and there always will be. He is not going to spend time on those that will never change. There are those that will and they are important. They are a priority. He doesn’t expect others to pray. They are too proud and they don’t need or want his help. They don’t want God telling them how to act. They are their own God and serve themselves. But they also want us to be like them. Misery loves company. They do things that are sin but everyone is doing it so it’s good. We have gone with the crowd for so long. We can be filthy and not even see it. We are complacent and lukewarm. We get used to our sins and think we are Godly. ‘will humble themselves and pray,’ Get our minds off ourselves and back on the God of the universe. The one who made us and knows us. The one who can help us. He knows what we need and always wants the best for us. If we will just turn back to him. But we need to see ourselves as God does. Totally ungrateful sinners. We are seeking our own pleasures not God. He has done so much for us, and given us everything, even his beloved son. Just so we could be free from that sin. One day he will ask us why we rejected him when he loved us so much and it will be too late. ‘and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,’ We are an imperfect people. On our own we can do no good thing. But we are called by him. He wants to help us. He wants us to seek him and want to obey his ways. To help others and see that their needs are met. We need to really want him in our lives. Because without him, all of him, we will be unsatisfied and our world will keep falling. It’s already so bad that I want to hide in my room and never come out. It will only get worse. We need to turn away from sin for it to get better. ‘then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin,’ To make an effort to sin no more. To obey his commandments. If we make that effort he will forgive all our sins. See us as righteous before him. The people he died for and greatly loves. We need to change first if we expect anything from him. ‘and I will heal their land.’ This nation was at one time founded on Gods principles. We were a very blessed country. He did so much for this country but our sin has brought us down. We are no longer that great and Godly country. Pride has taken over and we have rejected our first love. Younger generations have rejected the God of their parents. Serving themselves and they no longer need God. But our land is in trouble. So much violence and trouble. We need to wake up. Right now we need a cleaned up world and it has to start with Christians. We can’t expect non-Christians who don’t know him to help. This virus has been a wake up call and we need to listen.

Do you want to see our land great again?