This week I led my staff in a protracted time of praying for personal revival. We gathered on a Monday morning in our Sanctuary and just began pouring our hearts out to God, seeking his fresh wind and fresh fire. This is where revival begins…on our knees reaching for a fresh touch from the Lord.
Pray for Your Revival
The truth is believers often need to be re-awakened to a fresh experience of the Lord. Often we can allow the challenges and distractions of this world to crowd and stifle our passion for Christ. This is deadly to our spiritual vitality and Christian effectiveness.
When we allow this drift, it is time we seek revival.
The good news is this…
God is ready and willing to answer our prayers for revival. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.”
When it comes to seeking a personal revival…If we will approach God rightly, he will respond to us generously. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
To Seek Personal Revival You Must Approach God Rightly…
- We must humble ourselves. If you have accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, then you are his, called by his name. You represent the Lord and he lays claim to your life. When you acknowledge this and “humble” yourself, you are acknowledging his lordship over your soul. We get off track with God when we are prideful and determined to control our own destiny rather than yield to the expressed will of the Lord. When we humble ourselves again before God our own revival begins. No longer are we running from God or edging him out. Now we are submitting to his authority.
- We must pray. Here is where we expressly turn to God. Revival is turning to God and this is done in prayer. Call upon him. Pour out your heart to him. Express your need of him.
- We must seek God’s face. What does this mean? To seek his face is to seek to know and experience his character. When you fall in love with someone you are prone to gaze into their face. You want to know their thoughts and expressions. You want to know what pleases them and what bothers them. You learn this by observing their face. Seeking God’s face means you give your all to getting closer to God. Simple surface level experience of God is no longer enough for you. You want more. Don’t settle for inch deep faith, dive deep into the knowledge and love of God.
- We must turn from sin. You cannot have a revival with God if there is the willful continuance of sin in your life. You must turn from your sin. Sinning against God drives you from him. That is the problem. To experience his refreshing you must turn from that which is driving you away from right fellowship with the Lord. Turn away from the lies, from the greed, from the pride, from the bitterness, from the lustfulness, from the deception. Turn away from spiritual apathy and a contentment with a weak commitment to God. Turn away from these things and turn to him.
When You Rightly Seek Revival, God Responds…
How? The Bible says he will hear your plea, forgive your sins, and heal your life. You see God is ready and waiting to respond. In fact he is doing more than that. He is prompting you, even now, to pursue him afresh.
It is time to stop living a compromised or diminished spiritual life. Get on your knees today and turn your life over to him afresh and a new.
Question: What are signs in your life that God is calling you back to himself? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
Often when God is wishing to draw you back to Himself, you find yourself longing for “something.” Much like when you go a while without seeing a close friend or family member. You feel something or someone is missing from your day to day life. God may place thoughts of Him on your heart and mind more often, causing you to see your need is a renewal in your walk with Christ, a personal revival. God may also use struggles and trails to shake you, and awaken you to a need for revival in your life.
You have good insights here.
People might also consider a time of fasting. Using Elmer Towns’ “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough” has been very meaningful in increasing my awareness of God’s purpose for my life. “Denying ourselves food and drink for a time…can sharpen our spiritual appetites” (p. 149). Jesus was referring said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:3). Being “poor is spirit” means we recognize our need of intimacy with God. Fasting was part of the preparation for baptism in the early church that has been neglected far too long. I believe it can have real benefits as an act of contrition and as an aid to connecting or reconnecting with God.
People might also consider a time of fasting. Using Elmer Towns’ “Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough” has been very meaningful in increasing my awareness of God’s purpose for my life. “Denying ourselves food and drink for a time…can sharpen our spiritual appetites” (p. 149). Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:3). Being “poor is spirit” means we recognize our need of intimacy with God. I believe fasting can have real benefits as an act of contrition and as an aid to connecting or reconnecting with God. Fasting was part of the preparation for baptism in the early church that has been neglected far too long.
Yes, fasting is an amazing way to let go of things in order latch hold of God!