As believers we want to be part of the solution, not the problem. To solve a problem, we need to understand it. I asked my friend Tara Kenchen to help us have a better understanding of how we can be part of the solution in healing the racial divide in our land. I hope you’ll read and share Tara’s wisdom.
Healing Our Land
My youngest daughter Briya was not yet 2 years old when she started pounding her tiny fists against her father’s chin. He appeared to be both stunned and confused. She had been trying to explain something to him that he didn’t understand. She repeated herself a few times before succumbing to anger and frustration getting his attention in a different way.
From her perspective, she was talking and he either was not listening or didn’t understand. And truthfully, at the time, whatever was evidently very important to her was probably not as important to him (or me for that matter).
I intervened, picking her up, calming her down, and providing a little instruction of “Baby, you can’t hit daddy.” And though I didn’t advocate her “hitting daddy” I did understand. I understood what it meant to talk and be unheard and to be in the presence of people who even when they heard, did not understand. I understood then and I understand now.
Just like Briya, right now people are pounding the chin of our nation forcing themselves to be heard—screaming about the injustice they feel they’ve tried to communicate many times before. And as America’s racial history is resurfacing, this time with a vengeance, all of us are in the middle of it in some way.
So, I ask myself—what should the Body of Christ be doing (other than praying) at a time like this? How do we make sure that we are hearing and understanding? Should we get involved or should we stay far away?
So, I ask myself—what should the Body of Christ be doing at a time like this? How do we make sure that we are hearing and #understanding? #HealOurLand, @tckenchen Share on XIn 2 Chron 7:14, God says that when we cry out to Him, He will heal our land. And, as always, the answer involves fixing ourselves before we do anything else. After all, Jesus does talk about taking the log out of our own eyes so that we can then help our neighbors.
Humble Ourselves –
Humility is a posture of the heart. It sounds a little like, “Lord, I admit that I don’t know or understand everything that’s going on. I don’t know how to feel or what to do. I don’t have any answers on my own.” Humility before God supersedes intellect, experiences, opinions, race, gender, and even political agendas. Imagine that! If we accept that maybe we have been wrong or at least incomplete in our understanding, we open ourselves up to hear from God and only then can we hear the heart of others.
.Pray –
This is the bold step for in earnest prayer we give God permission to change us and move the way He would like. Today’s bold prayer would be: Father, show me myself. Show me your heart for your church. Show me your heart for this nation. Show me where I have been wrong in my stance, action, or inaction concerning race and help me to change. Let your Kingdom come and let your will be done in my life, in this nation, and in all the earth. Amen.
.Seek My Face –
This is when the Lord shows us who we are and what to do. Warning: Be prepared that sometimes when we seek God, He OFTEN tells us to do something that we would never have done. Or He may send us to people who we wouldn’t have naturally sought out before. He told Peter to eat what was “unclean” and sent him to Cornelius, a Gentile. Good Jews didn’t mix with Gentiles! He sent Ananias to Paul, a known persecutor of the Christians! And it is worth mentioning that both Cornelius and Paul had to be humble enough to receive who was sent.
.Turn –
Repent. Agree with God and go the other way. Do not stand still. When our minds are changed, our actions must follow. Paul didn’t just stop persecuting Christians, he began to declare the Lordship of Christ – the opposite. Inaction is in fact, action.
.Receive Healing –
Will you be made whole? Sometimes the Lord heals us as we go, as we stand up, as we wash, or as we dip. Often healing is attached to our acts of faith. Again, be prepared to act.
It is only after we do the introspective work of looking at our own hearts that we are prepared to do the work as the corporate Body of Christ—the church. And yes, the church must do its introspective work too! It is the humble, truth seeking, repentant unified body of Christ that will stir the heart of God to heal our land. So, let’s get to it!
If 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 and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
Bio:
Tara Kenchen is a writer and speaker encouraging many with her practical teaching, Bible-based prayers, and words of restoration. Her desire is to see everyone walking in the freedom of Christ. To her, now that Christ has set us free, it is time for us to LIVE free – UNAPOLOGETICALLY FREE.
As an experienced attorney and senior executive, she has spent her career investing in the community, as she believes that real change requires a comprehensive approach. While her primary goal is to show others the way to freedom in Christ, she believes that this is done by both teaching and working on behalf of those who often lack the capacity or position to advocate for themselves. Tara lives in Durham, NC with her husband and three children.
Connect with Tara at www.liveunapologeticallyfree.org.
Sometimes I link with these great sites:
#InstaEncouraements, #TellHisStory #Recharge Wednesday, #WorthBeyondRubies #TuneinThursaday, #Dance with Jesus, #Grace&Truth,
Amen Ms. Tara. Thank you for bringing some godly wisdom and perspective into this conversation ma’am. Much appreciated. Sadly, I’m afraid those peaceful protestors who only want to be heard are being drowned out by those who are acting more like your precious little two-year old child did. Teens and young adults should have been taught that the only thing a temper tantrum does is prolong your unhappiness. I pray those that have been deceived, as well as those who are driving them to these acts, are silenced quickly so we might have a genuine discussion in a reasonable, God-honoring, manner. Thank you again ma’am; and God’s blessings.
J.D., I think you are right. Isn’t it just like the devil to convolute legitimate grievances.
Thanks J.D. for your thoughts. I agree that we can be frustrated and distracted by the behavior! However, even with my daughter’s behavior, I understood it. In Seven Habits for Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey encouraged us to “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.” I am hopeful that as believers we can look past the bad actors, seek to understand and have the genuine discussion that you reference. Blessings to you also J.D.!
YES
In addition to all you mentioned, the body of Christ needs to have conversations about race relations. We need to have uncomfortable conversations about what’s happening in the world. And yes we need to be concerned with the body of Christ, however, it’s those who are not a part of the body of Christ that we need to reach. Then and only then will they surrender to Christ and the repenting and healing process can begin. There is no law that can be written or law revised that can change our hearts. Systemic racism, white privilege and racial inequality are all matters of the heart. The Great Physician is the only one capable of changing hearts.
“The Great Physician is the only one capable of changing hearts.” May we let Him do that in our lives and carry that to others. We can’t give what we haven’t first received. Thanks, Yvonne.
I agree Yvonne. You have hit what I think is the second step or “Phase II” of healing our land. After our personal process, the body of Christ must go through a corporate process which will include being bold enough to hear and understand the role the corporate church has played in our nation’s racial history. It is the humble church, the “if my people” who will be able to cry out to God for change! Then we can go reach the world. And praise God that He can change our personal and our corporate hearts!
Beautiful, thoughtful and thought-provoking post. It always begins with seeking His face and asking Him to show us how we may change.
Amen, Ann! Thank you.
Thanks Ann and Amen! It does ALWAYS begin with seeking His face!
So thankful that I saw this today and read with an open heart. I’ve been struggling with everything that is going on in our country. I’ve experienced so many emotions. I feel like anything I say or express could be hurtful and I don’t want to hurt my brothers & sisters in the black community. Thank you for sharing this. It’s what the Lord has been showing me in my seeking to know what am I to do to be part of the solution not add to the problem. So very good!
Thank you, Renee! You’ve expressed what many of us feel.
Renee, I really appreciate you being bold enough to share your feelings. This time has been an emotional roller coaster for many. Praying that as you continue to seek the Lord, He will continue to lead you to your place of action.
Humbling ourselves, Crying out to God, Submitting to Him, Praying, Confessing Sin, Repenting, Seeking His Wisdom, Allowing Him to change and conform our hearts to His. These actions are sometimes challenging to do, but they are the only things that produce authentic change, fruit and lasting results. Thank you Tara for this great devotional.
I love how Tara gave us examples of how to do that. Thanks, C.J.
Amen, Connie! We can do it!
If we could actually accomplish all these steps, I can only imagine the healing it would bring our nation. And it all starts with me, with each one of us individually then moving to our corporate bodies. Thank you for sharing, Tara!
Lisa, like so many things, it does begin with allowing God to search and deal with us individually. Then we can move forward in clarity, peace, and love. Thanks for chiming in.
Thanks Lisa. Yes and yes!
Thank you for these wise words. Going to God in every situation is key to showing His love to others.
Yes! You said it, Melissa. Thanks so much.
Absolutely Melissa. Whew, the key really is seeking Him in every situation!
AMEN and AMEN. Thank you, Tara and thank you, Debbie.
Thanks, Fuller.
Thank you, Fuller!
Renee expressed my feelings well. I want be sure anything I might say would be helpful, never harmful.
I’ve been feeling for a long time that each of us in the church need to be busy living out 2 Chronicles 7:14. Even if we, personally, have not been committing sin, we can repent on behalf of our nation. In the book of Daniel, he (Daniel) did just that!
Yes we can. And often the first sin confessed was abandoning the Lord. That sin manifested itself in many other kinds of sin. Thanks, Jerralea.
Thank you for giving your platform to Tara today. She is right on. Visiting today from the tell his story link up. laurensparks.net
Thanks for visiting, Lauren. And yes, I appreciate Tara’s wisdom.
Thanks for breaking it down. You are always ready and willing to share with others. That sure looks like one of my messages (smile) Keep on encouraging. Love you
AMEN, I am so happy to read this message this morning. My spirit was lifted up as I was reminded what the responsibility of the church is today. I have been feeling so inadequate and so I am thankful that you took us to the WORD – sharing and breaking down what God would have us to do in this time. Thank you Tara and thank you Debbie
Thank you, Evainia. How relevant God’s word is all the time. And Tara did a wonderful job helping us to apply it.
What a great way to place Jesus at the center during this time in our country. God is always creating, even in the midst of uncertainty. This message helps the reader to stay in relationship with Him. Powerful resource!
Amen! Thanks, Tracy.
Thank you, Tara, for your words, and Debbie for sharing your space to receive them. I cannot imagine what it feels like to not be heard day after day. Your five ways for the church to step up are practical and needed. May I become a better listener, a better accepter of all perspectives, and a person who loves just because it is the right thing to do.
Thank you, Mary.