Verse 14 is a very famous verse and a great template for how Christians should pray for their church to be renewed. The first thing needed is to humble ourselves. We need to acknowledge our smallness before God’s greatness, and our sinfulness before God’s purity.

Next we need to pray and seek God’s face. This means not just going through the motions of prayer but really seeking the Lord, seeking his presence and seeking His favour. We must come to pray acknowledging who we are coming to. This means praying with thinking minds which are guided by what scripture teaches us about God.

This has to be followed with a turning from our wicked ways. We cannot expect God’s blessing and continue on the path of sin that brings God’s curse. Repenting means a change of heart towards sin, that then overflows into our actions. Repentance is something needed at key times in our lives , such as at the moment of salvation or when we have backslid into sin. But repentance needs to be ongoing and a serious part of every-time we pray. The consequence of such praying is forgiveness and healing. This is surely the greatest needs of today, God’s people seriously praying like this.