God Hears Confession

A Future for God's People
Turn to Me and Be Saved

 1 Kings 8:33-40 (The Message)

^33-34 When your people Israel are beaten by an enemy because they've sinned against you, but then turn to you and acknowledge your rule in prayers desperate and devout in this Temple,
      Listen from your home in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, return them to the land you gave their ancestors.
 ^35-36 When the skies shrivel up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, but then they pray at this place, acknowledging your rule and quitting their sins because you have scourged them,
      Listen from your home in heaven, forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel.
    Then start over with them: Train them to live right and well; send rain on the land you gave your people as an inheritance.
 ^37-40 When disasters strike, famine or catastrophe, crop failure or disease, locust or beetle, or when an enemy attacks their defenses—calamity of any sort—any prayer that's prayed from anyone at all among your people Israel, hearts penetrated by the disaster, hands and arms thrown out to this Temple for help,
      Listen from your home in heaven.
    Forgive and go to work on us. Give what each deserves, for you know each life from the inside (you're the only one with such "inside knowledge"!) so that they'll live before you in lifelong reverent and believing obedience on this land you gave our ancestors.

For Reflection
Solomon offers his prayer as we should.  He begins with acknowledging the glory of God and continues by remembering and reflecting God's great promise to His people.  Solomon prays on behalf of his people that their sins be forgiven and that God encourages his people live lives as only God knows them -- to bring his people to their full potential as citizens of the Kingdom of God.  God wants this for you too.

Pray
that  God reaches into your soul and drives it to the surface so that you will become all that God has intended you to become.