Reverse the Curse: How God Heals Lives, Families, and Nations
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
Introduction
Many today want God to “heal their land (lives)” and will ask God to fix all their problems but come to God asking for healing and restoration but skip over the process of how God promised to heal their lives.
God’s plan for healing and restoration is in this exact order, steps 1 – 5…
1. shall humble themselves,
2. and pray,
3. and seek my face,
4. and turn from their wicked ways
5. I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
The problem with most people today is that they do not realize that skipping steps 1 through 4 will never bring the blessings and healing they need in their lives because they want God to “hear their prayers from heaven, forgive their sin, and will heal their land” but really have no desire to do steps 1 – 4 which is “humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways.”
Doing steps 1 – 4 would require something that none of us in the flesh really desire.
In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 we read about both “blessings and curses” that God told Israel would happen depending on what they choose. If they choose to obey and hear the voice of the Lord they would be blessed above all people.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
“1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.”
But if they refused to obey and hear the voice of God their lives would be cursed because of disobedience, rebellion, and the wickedness in their lives, and the heavens above them when they prayed would be like “brass”
Deuteronomy 28:15-6
“15But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 16Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.”
These “curses” would bring vexation, sicknesses, and destruction to their lives because they refused to obey his commandments.
Deuteronomy 28:
“20The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 21The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. 22The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. 23And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. 24The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.”
Many today both in the world, and in many churches worldwide are experiencing curses because they have forsaken and refuse to hear, believe, and obey the voice of God in their lives.
Pride has replaced humbling themselves.
Distracting church programs has replaced seeking the face of God.
Eloquent man made sermons and Chicken dinners in churches has replaced intercessory prayer.
Doing wicked deeds has become normal in many lives and has replaced God’s love in many people’s lives.
Then they gather for 1 hour for Sunday morning service and have the audacity to come before God and pray a 3 minuet lethargic repetitious payers for healing and restoration not realizing that they have it all backwards in what they are doing. The people come and sit in the pews believing that God is going to help them because their church leaders reassured them that everything is okay in their lives, and never address the number one issue that people have – UNBELIEF.
People read about the blessings, peace, and healing of God written on the pages of their bibles, but never experience any of it in their lives.
They read about all the miracles of deliverance’s and restoration that Jesus did in opening the eyes of blind, curing lepers, the feeding of five thousand men with a three loves of bread and two pieces of fish, and even a miracle of a man named Lazarus being raised from the dead, but they never experience any of these miracles in their life.
Scripture Foundation
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
— 2 Chronicles 7:14 – The Holy Bible
Many people cry out to God for healing, restoration, peace, deliverance, revival, financial breakthrough, emotional healing, and spiritual renewal. Yet often they want the promise without reversing the process that caused the destruction in the first place.
God gave a divine pattern in The Holy Bible. This verse is not merely a comforting promise—it is a spiritual process of restoration and healing.
Sin brought destruction. Pride opened doors. Rebellion hardened hearts. Wickedness corrupted the land. But God revealed that when His people reverse the process spiritually, He responds from heaven.
The path to healing begins when people stop running from God and begin returning to Him.
The Four Steps of Reversal
1. Humble Themselves
Pride is often the first barrier between man and God.
Pride says:
“I am fine.”
“I do not need correction.”
“God understands my lifestyle.”
“I can live however I want.”
Humility says:
“Lord, I need You.”
“Search my heart.”
“Correct me.”
“Teach me Your ways.”
Before restoration can come, pride must fall. Let us not forget that God resist the proud.
James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
Biblical Example — King Manasseh
Manasseh was one of the most wicked kings in Judah. He practiced idolatry, witchcraft, and led the nation into deep rebellion and sin. Judgment came upon him, and he was taken captive to Babylon.
But notice what changed everything:
“And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.”
— 2 Chronicles 33:12
We all know that God can humble anyone and does at times, but God did not humble him, he had to humble himself, that was his choice.
When Manasseh humbled himself, God responded with mercy and restored him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom.
What Was Reversed?
Pride became humility.
Rebellion became repentance.
Distance from God became surrender.
What Did God Do?
God heard him.
God forgave him.
God restored his life.
2. Pray
Prayer reconnects people to God.
Many lives remain spiritually dry because prayer has been replaced with distraction, entertainment, bitterness, worldly ambition, and self-dependence.
Prayer is not merely speaking words—it is returning communication to the One who gives life.
Biblical Example — Hannah
Hannah lived in deep sorrow because she was barren. Her heart was wounded, and her situation looked hopeless.
But she went before the Lord in broken prayer.
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.”
— 1 Samuel 1:10
God heard Hannah’s cry and gave her a son, Samuel, who would later help spiritually restore Israel.
What Was Reversed?
Despair became faith.
Silence became prayer.
Barrenness became fruitfulness.
What Did God Do?
God answered her.
God restored her joy.
God changed her destiny and he future became brighter!
None of this happened until she wept bitterly before the Lord and prayed.
3. Seek My Face
Seeking God’s face means desiring His presence more than His blessings.
Many seek God’s hand for provision but do not seek His heart for transformation.
God wants relationship, not empty religion.
Biblical Example — King Josiah
Josiah inherited a corrupted kingdom filled with idolatry and spiritual darkness. But when the Book of the Law was discovered, Josiah humbled himself and sought the Lord sincerely.
He tore down idols, cleansed the land, and restored worship.
“Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God…”
— 2 Chronicles 34:27
What Was Reversed?
Idolatry became worship.
Spiritual corruption became cleansing.
National rebellion became repentance.
What Did God Do?
God delayed judgment.
God brought spiritual restoration.
God honored Josiah’s heart.
4. Turn From Their Wicked Ways
This is true repentance.
Repentance is not merely feeling sorry. It is turning away from darkness and walking toward righteousness.
A person cannot continue embracing sin that makes them wicked while expecting God’s healing power to flow freely into their life.
Turning from wicked ways means:
Leaving unforgiveness.
Abandoning immorality.
Rejecting hatred and deceit.
Renouncing pride and rebellion.
Walking away from corruption.
Refusing hypocrisy.
Biblical Example — Nineveh
When God sent Jonah to warn the city of Nineveh, destruction was coming because of wickedness.
But the people reversed the process.
“Let them turn every one from his evil way…”
— Jonah 3:8
From the king to the common people, they humbled themselves, fasted, prayed, and repented.
What Did God Do?
God withheld destruction.
God showed mercy.
God spared the city.
What Was Reversed?
Violence became repentance.
Judgment became mercy.
Destruction became preservation.
When the Process Is Reversed, Heaven Responds
God did not say:
“If the government changes…”
“If society improves…”
“If sinners to behave behave…”
He said:
“If MY people…”
Healing begins with God’s people returning to Him genuinely.
When repentance becomes real:
Families can heal.
Minds can heal.
Physical bodies can heal.
Emotional sickness can heal.
Relationships can heal.
Churches can heal.
Nations can heal.
Broken hearts can heal.
None of this is possible without repentance and true humility before God.
The Prodigal Son: A Picture of Restoration
The Prodigal Son is another powerful example of reversing the process.
The son walked away from the father into rebellion, wastefulness, and brokenness. But when he “came to himself,” he returned home in humility.
The father did not reject him.
Instead:
He embraced him.
Restored him.
Clothed him.
Celebrated his return.
This is the heart of God toward those who truly repent.
Healing the Land Begins With Healing the Heart
A broken society is the outward result of broken hearts separated from God.
Revival is not a building with a lot of people attending, revival begins in the heart of people. Revival does not begin on stages. Revival begins:
in repentance,
in humility,
in prayer,
in surrender,
in obedience.
The healing of the land starts with the healing of the soul.
A Call to Return to God
Today many are searching for peace, restoration, and healing while holding onto the very things destroying them spiritually and physically.
But God still extends mercy and waits patiently for every soul to return to him in true humility.
The process can be reversed.
No life is too broken.
No family is too damaged.
No heart is too far gone.
No nation is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
The same God who restored:
Manasseh,
Hannah,
Josiah,
and Nineveh
is still able to restore anyone’s lives today when they call out to God and seek His face.
Here is God’s direct contact info, and when you call, he hears and will show you things you don’t know or haven’t seen yet…
Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Closing Prayer
Father God,
I humble myself before You. Forgive me for pride, rebellion, hypocrisy, and sin. Teach me how to seek Your face sincerely and not merely Your blessings. Turn my heart away from wickedness and back toward righteousness. Heal my broken life, restore my entire family, strengthen me, and let Your mercy flow again upon my land. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen.
Final Encouragement
God’s promise still stands:
“Then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
— The Holy Bible