PRIDE OBSTRUCTS THE FLOW OF GOD’S BLESSING TO US; HUMILITY OPENS WINDOWS OF PRAYER AND BLESSING.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read 2 Chronicles 7:11-14.
Verse of the Day: “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
“Are you girls all packed for the youth retreat?” Mom called to Dawn and Leslie.
The girls appeared, each lugging a duffel bag. “Yeah, we’re ready,” Dawn said.
“Don’t forget your music,” Mom said. Their church youth pastor had asked Dawn and Leslie to sing two duets during the weekend.
“Yeah, if we forgot it, Pastor might have to ask Belinda to sing!” Dawn said.
Leslie laughed. “That would be awful!”
Mom opened her mouth to speak but didn’t. Then she pointed toward the family room. “Why don’t you girls watch a little TV until it’s time to leave?”
Dawn and Leslie dumped their duffel bags by the sliding glass doors and flopped onto the couch. They were soon engrossed in a TV program.
Suddenly Mom appeared with a vacuum cleaner and started vacuuming. The vacuum cleaner filled the room with noise and disturbed the image on the TV screen.
“Mom! Can’t you wait till we leave to do that?”
Mom turned off the vacuum cleaner. “Is this bothering you?” she asked sweetly.
“Yeah,” Dawn said. “It, like, messes up the picture, and we can’t hear anything.”
“I see,” Mom said. She shrugged. “I guess TV is more important than your retreat.”
“What?” Dawn said. “What are you talking about?”
Mom sat in a chair opposite the couch. “You’re worried about the vacuum cleaner interfering with the television show you’re watching,” she said. “But you should be worried about your attitudes interfering with this weekend.”
“Huh?” Dawn asked, looking puzzled. Leslie also looked puzzled. Mom’s voice was gentle. “I think it’s great that Pastor asked you girls to sing this weekend. But make sure your pride about your musical talent doesn’t interfere with what God wants to do for you this weekend. Pride can choke off the blessings God wants to pour out on you. But if you go to this retreat with a humble spirit, it will be much easier for God to speak to you and bless you.”
“You’re right, Mom,” Dawn said. She looked at Leslie. “We don’t want anything to mess up this weekend. I guess we were getting a little snotty.” She turned off the TV. “You can go ahead and vacuum in here. We don’t need to watch anything.”
“Oh, that’s OK,” Mom said, smiling. “I just vacuumed in here yesterday anyway!”
TO DISCUSS: What four things did God tell his people to do if they wanted him to forgive them and heal their land? Why do you think God blesses humble people? Do you need to humble yourself in any way?
TO PRAY: “Lord, we want your blessing and healing on our nation. We want to persevere in humbling ourselves and seeking you.”
