We Must Take the First Step...

I Kings 8:38-40 "What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers."

God's promises are usually conditional; they begin after we take the first step. These verses seem to show us that one step leads to another.

~ As God's people humble themselves and pray (vs. 38)

~ Then God steps into action with four responses in vs. 39...

1) Hear 2) Forgive 3) Do 4) Give.

~ God's people will see His actions and gain a respect or a "fear" of the Lord (vs. 40).

The second and third steps only occur if we as Christians take the first step towards God. Thank You, God, for this reminder that You desire a working relationship with your children, but will not force it on us. We must take that first step.