The second phrase of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is "...who are called by my name..." At first glance this phrase appears quite redundant. What is the difference between these words and the "my people" which began this verse? Would it not be obvious that "my people" would be "called by my name?" And if so, what is the point of these words?

One possibility that occurs to me is the idea that the two phrases consist of identifiers which, while having the same general meaning, would have been used very differently. In the first phrase, the speaker is clearly God. Verse 12 in this chapter confirms this (...the Lord appeared to him at night, and said...".) God uses "my people" in order to identify the nation of Israel as His.

The second phrase, however, would seem likely to have been used by outside third parties. When people are called by the name of someone else, they are identified as followers or family members of that person. A strong association exists between the two; so strong, in fact, that it become difficult to distinguish between them. Throughout the scriptures, we see individuals referred to as "son of", "of the family of," or "of the people of." Jesus himself is referred to as "the son of David" as a way of acknowledging his lineage and association with King David.

So why does this matter? Something for each of us to prayerfully consider is to ask ourselves whose name we are known by. Am I "of the family of Wildcat Fans?" Perhaps I am "of the people of those who never have enough time to talk." Or "of the house and lineage of having lots of stuff." If I believe I am known as "of the family of Christ" is it in the cultural sense, such as the Israelites being decendants of Jacob/Israel? Or is it because I am known as a follower of the man, Jesus Christ? Be assured, outside third parties have labeled each of us as called by the name of something. What name have they given you?

2 Chronicles 7:14 begins with the phrase, "If my people..." This phrase is one that might easily be ignored or passed over quickly in an effort to get to the rest of the sentence. Yet when taking the time to consider the three simple words, one can very quickly become both amazed and overwhelmed. The God of All Creation, Yahweh, THE God, looks down at a bunch of disobedient people on a little planet in one corner of the universe, and calls them "...my people..." Wow. Were we to meditate on that for a lifetime, we still would not grasp the full meaning of those words.

What an incredible honor to be called "mine" by God. A recent song by the group MercyMe includes the image of God saying, "this one's mine." As I've heard that song, I have often pictured myself standing in a crowd of people with Jesus standing up in front. He looks out across the crowd and to my surprise points directly at me, looks me in the eyes, and says those words...this one's mine. What an amazing moment that would be. God willing to identify me as one of his people despite all of my flaws. Yet that is what he has done. He has chosen to love me and to listen to my clueless, self-centered prayers. And equally amazing is that he would love nothing more than to hear more of them.

I am His. Wow.

Many people, over the course of many centuries, have attempted to describe and define prayer. Entire libraries full of books on prayer have been written by both the scholar and the unschooled. This blog does not attempt to define the undefinable or provide answers that are known only to God. Rather, the intent is to provide a forum for the exchange of thought, experience and revelation regarding prayer in order that we may all be enlightened, challenged and encouraged to continue the walk toward God, as made manifest in his son, Jesus Christ, through the workings of the Holy Spirit.