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If my people, who are called by my name,"); document.writeln("will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked"); document.writeln("ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal"); document.writeln("their land.¹

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The War of 1812, also known as The"); document.writeln("Forgotten War carries a very sad chapter for the history of our nation. On"); document.writeln("August 23, 1814, the British Army\'�”one of the most powerful armies in the world"); document.writeln("at that time\'�”raided and torched the U.S. Capitol and the White House, along"); document.writeln("with the Library of Congress and the U.S. Department of War. The orange glow of"); document.writeln("the flames from the burning buildings could be seen for miles that night. The"); document.writeln("next morning, the structures up and down the national mall lay in ruins,"); document.writeln("burning, as black smoke billowed above them. But, God smiled down on this new"); document.writeln("nation that day, for suddenly, a very unexpected, a very uncharacteristic"); document.writeln("hurricane hit Washington with a driving rain that put out ALL of the fires!

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The tornadoes spinning off of the"); document.writeln("hurricane stopped the British in their tracks, leaving them with no other"); document.writeln("choice but to retreat.

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It was not a powerful ally, or a"); document.writeln("courageous general that came to push the British army out. The recovery of"); document.writeln("Washington that day was like the many events in the Old Testament when God used"); document.writeln("forces of nature to reveal Himself. Throughout Scripture God used a flood, plagues,"); document.writeln("earthquakes, drought, fire, and even parted a sea to show His power and might.

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In 2 Chronicles, after Solomon had"); document.writeln("finished building the temple and had dedicated it to the Lord, God appeared to"); document.writeln("Solomon with specific instructions: that in the face of disaster, the people"); document.writeln("were to humble themselves and pray, seek God\'��s face and turn from their wicked"); document.writeln("ways, and then, God would forgive them and heal their land! I believe that on"); document.writeln("that fateful August day in 1814, the American soldiers were humbly seeking God\'��s"); document.writeln("face in the midst of their turmoil. I believe that God looked down on them that"); document.writeln("night and forgave them and healed their land for the sole purpose of God\'��s name"); document.writeln("being remembered in that place forever.

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America was a nation built on trust in"); document.writeln("God\'�”one nation under God. Our nation has gone up in spiritual flames and our"); document.writeln("land is in need of the miraculous healing of the mighty hand of God. May we be"); document.writeln("humble in seeking His forgiveness, and may God choose to heal our land once"); document.writeln("again.

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Suggested prayer: Dear Lord, I ask"); document.writeln("forgiveness for my country and the choices we have made that offend you and"); document.writeln("sadden your heart toward this nation that was once founded upon your Word."); document.writeln("Allow your light to shine through those of us that call you Father. In the name"); document.writeln("of Jesus I pray, Amen.

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1. "); document.writeln("2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV).

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Today\'��s Encounter was written by:"); document.writeln("Veronica B.

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