She attended her local church for numerous years; giving, serving, and loving others, but her life changed when secrets were exposed.
People were hurt, wounded, and left that particular assembly of worship for numerous reasons, outside of her control.
She sat in church services, hurting because everything she had become familiar with was now shattered memories. She questioned God, “Why am I here?”
But, she knew deep in her heart, that God had her in that particular church, and that leaving would be outside the will of God. But, she continued to contemplate a plan to leave and began a new chapter in her life.
She ran. She resisted. Yet, God was persistent.
He continued to call her, despite her longing to find hope elsewhere. Little did she know that she would be an intricate part of the healing process at her church. God was going use her, and every brokenness she felt in her beating heart, to be a beacon of hope and forgiveness to those around her.
The revival began in her heart.
We often time desire for revival to begin in our local church, or across America, yet revival begins within our hearts first.
We plan special youth services, mission services, and have prayer meetings, but we continue to see our world left lost.
We pray. We fast. But, we are still left asking God, “Where is the revival?”
Revival first begins in your own heart. Before revival, God must internally change our hearts and prepare his people to receive the outpour of His spirit.
If you have been seeking revival in your community, in your local church, or in your life, it begins with allowing God to change your heart.
There are 3 things necessary for revival to begin:
1. Repentance
The first step to revival is Repentance.
The Bible says in Proverbs 28:13 in the New International Version,
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
If we are seeking revival, we must have a repentant heart. I encourage you to find a place to lay before the Lord and ask him for forgiveness. Ask the Lord if there are any hidden sins in your heart, that need to come to the surface, so that you can ask him for forgiveness.
2. Surrender
In our human frailty, we tend to try and control our life. We believe we know what is best, and that our ways are best. Inadvertently at times, we make choices for our life, without first seeking God because in our sinful nature we believe we know best.
One of the greatest examples of surrender is Jesus. Jesus knew that it was imperative that he hung on the cross for our sins, in order to save us. He prayed the evening before being crucified, “Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine” (Mark 14:36 NLT).
Jesus’ love was greater than the pain he would have to endure for our sake, and he surrendered despite the mere possibility that some individuals would never love him back. He died in order for us to have hope and forgiveness.
Surrender is relinquishing our control and will, and trusting his.
Surrender is trusting God, in the uncertainty.
3. Obedience
We have repented, surrendered, and now we need to obey.
God wants our full obedience, even when it makes absolutely NO sense.
Check your Pulse Moment: Obedience is a prerequisite for revival!!
God may ask you to do things that feel awkward, or absurd in your mind, but obey.
Trust him, because he knows EXACTLY what he doing. If you desire revival, obedience is the direct pathway to seeing God change the lives around you.
God may be asking you to pray or befriend someone, you never imagined communicating with, but he is working. His ways are greater than ours, obey!
I admonish you to continue to pray for revival but allow God to change your heart for revival first.