I Can Do It

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

“I Can Do It” The human condition is one of struggle. We struggle to come into the world and from the moment that we take our first breath we begin to adapt and overcome. Some have described this struggle as survival of the fittest. Watching a child we see them move from dependence to independence whether it is in the struggle to feed them self, to walk, or to find work and make a living each person lives their life struggling from one goal to another. We are fortunate to have this ability because without it the human race would soon be extinct. But as always what is a blessing on one hand becomes a curse on the other. From our first breath we are conditioned to “do it ourselves” so when we have to lay aside our pride and self reliance to seek God and His help we find that we must overcome a strong fleshly desire that springs up from our core being. To truly humble ourselves and pray means overcoming our survival instinct. Perhaps that is why so many find it hard to pray or turn prayer into a time of demanding God do what we want Him to do.
Abraham knew that God had promised him a child. He had faith and trusted that God was going to keep His word. Yet, we still find Abraham trying to solve the problem on his own. Sarah was only being helpful (she thought) when she suggested using Hagar, her handmaid, in the socially acceptable way for barren women to give their husbands a son. Abraham saw that this way worked for everyone else. Why not give it a chance? Survival instinct on display! To truly come before God in humble prayer we must cease from our labors. Still our mind from it’s fleshly pursuit and wait upon the Lord. The promise of God is that “They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” God is able! He is my strength! He is my deliverer! He is my ever present help in times of trouble! So today, I will believe! I will trust not in my wisdom or strength but in God alone. I will humble myself and pray.