You can't drive anywhere or listen to the radio or watch T.V. in the U.S. without realizing that there are elections coming up. Some state and local elections are being held in June with the national elections coming up in November. As I read 2Chronicles 7:14 again the other day "and 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, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" it made me think about what is happening in our country. The verse comes after Solomon had dedicated the temple and the Lord appeared to him and assured him that the Lord had heard his prayer. Additionally, God told Solomon that if there was drought, disaster, or disease which came upon the nation (Israel) due to their wickedness (i.e. God's punishment for their sin) and the people of God humbled themselves, then God would hear, forgive, and heal. Since the promise is given to God's people I believe the application can be made to God's people today as well. If believers across America will humble themselves, and pray, and seek God's face and turn from THEIR wicked ways, then the Lord will hear, forgive and heal. So maybe we should take some time during this critical election cycle to stop each day, to pray, to confess our own sins and those of our country, to humble ourselves before God and seek His face. Steadily the influence of Christianity is waning in America. Greed, deception, dishonesty, corruption, immorality, and perversity dominate our culture. Only as believers pray, and participate in the process can we shine the light of truth into the dark world in which we live. Take some time each day to pray for our country, for the upcoming elections, for believers to actually vote according to Biblical convictions and priorities, for us to turn from self-indulgence, and yield in obedience to God's Word. God is still in control. He desires that we humble ourselves and recognize our dependence upon Him. He also wants us to exercise our influence in the culture, to speak up for truth, to speak out against wickedness, to live with integrity, and to obey God's Word. We are called upon in 2Chronicles 7:14 to pray and in 1Timothy 2. May we commit each day to spend even 1 minute in prayer for our country, for our sins to be evident, to confess, and repent, for evil to be exposed and punished, for truth to prevail and for God to heal our land.