We shouldn’t be surprised when people don’t act like Christians if they don’t know and follow Jesus Christ. I realize that. And yet, I’m often deeply grieved by the evil that is rampant in our culture. I want to fight to restore Judeo-Christian norms.

Wickedness abounds and is often championed. Disrespect for others is normal in the home and classroom, with abusive rants filling the airwaves and social media. Unspeakable immorality is now considered normal in circles throughout all socio-economic levels.

Life itself is considered expendable—through abortion industry, but also in popular video games that offer entertainment where you score points for murder. With the low value placed on life, we should not be surprised by the increase in mass shootings.

We may feel helpless to stop the evil, but God is not surprised. Nor is He defeated.

When I get disheartened about it, the Lord reminds me, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron. 7:14).

Nothing is impossible for God. Furthermore, through Him I have a voice.  I don’t need a podium or TV show. I can make a difference from my closet. In the next verse God tells us His eyes and ears will be attentive to prayer (2 Chron. 7:15).

I can make a difference in a world filled with evil, not because of me, but because God is attentive to prayer.

So, I made a commitment to pray for our land. To pray for God to have mercy, and to open our eyes to know His love and discern between good and evil. I’ve prayed for a spirit of repentance to move across the land, for a turning back to God, revival, and more.

I started out strong, then realized I was no longer praying for our nation.

I again committed to faithful prayer, because I believe that needed change will come only when God turns hearts to Him.

And then re-commited—because, again, I failed to remain faithful to my commitment.

I believe the Lord showed me why I keep failing. I focused on the hope that if we pray and seek God’s face He will hear, forgive our sins, and heal the land. After all, He promised, and boy, do we need healing.

I prayed (in spurts), but I hadn’t noticed the little two-letter word, “if,” at the beginning of the verse. “If My people . . . will humble themselves, and pray . . ..”

Neither had I considered what it means to humble myself.

To humble oneself means to be meek, poor, bowed down, afflicted, or oppressed. The definition I think fits best is “to bring self into subjection.”

Humility is in contrast to pride. There are several Old Testament words for pride with similar overlapping meanings, such as to be arrogant, insolent, presumptuous, and exalted. One definition explains further that pride is “an insolent and empty assurance which trusts in its own power and resources.”

Looking more closely at my situation, I saw that my prayer time wasn’t a priority for me. I allowed myself to too easily be pulled away by other demands or interests. I sometimes interrupted my prayer to pursue trivial pursuits.

In short, I discovered in me “an insolent and empty assurance which” sought its own agenda. Or, as another definition noted, I had “an impious and empty presumption which trusts in the stability of earthly things.”

It’s difficult to admit I was insolent, arrogant, or that I trusted in the stability of earthly things, but I certainly chose to follow earthly pursuits that have no eternal significance—rather than giving myself to a task that could impact a nation, maybe even eternity.

Why did I languish in my commitment to pray? Because I didn’t humble myself. I followed my own inclinations rather than subjecting myself to the Lord.

In church, we pray weekly, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” and then I come home, seek my own will, and “follow the impious and empty presumptions.” (Does ‘hypocrite’ come to mind?)

The state of our culture tells me I’m not alone. The lack of change is a report card on the church. IF we who are called by His name will humble ourselves, seek His face, and pray, . . . if we do, we’ll turn from our wicked ways. THEN He will hear and heal the land. God promised.

But the promise begins with IF. If we subject ourselves to His will.

If we truly want His will to come on earth as it is in heaven, is it so difficult to subject ourselves?

Praying is the hardest discipline of my life. As I seek to subject my will to God’s and pray, I’m tempted to stray in thoughts and actions. What does it say to my loving heavenly Father when I choose to pursue my mundane desires instead of Him?

If my malady is part of an epidemic in the church, it’s no wonder we are surrounded by evil.

What would it take for our nation to turn to God, know His love, and bring glory and honor to His name? What if the only thing preventing it is that I’m not subjecting myself and seeking His face?

Oh, Lord, forgive me for the pride that resists subjecting myself to You. Give me eyes to see when I’m exalting myself, the will to submit, and faith to choose You in all things. Help me to seek Your face and to pray earnestly and consistently according to Your will. Oh, God, draw all men unto You and heal our land.