Revival Starts With You
For many years, my prayer life consisted of going to God in crisis or when I needed something. I was a situational prayer. Plus, I spent very little time studying His Word, only reading it when it fit into my busy schedule. After years of this approach, I became frustrated that I wasn’t hearing from God and knew something had to change. I decided to radically change the way I related to Him and started coming into prayer with Him every day and reading the Bible consistently. Over time, my soul was renewed which led to a hunger for an even deeper relationship with God, and a yearning to know more about Him through His Word. This experience of revival changed me and my relationship with God.
In the Old Testament, the people of Judah were constantly getting themselves into trouble, turning their backs on God, worshiping idols and living corrupt lives. In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet called out to God asking when He was going to deal with the wickedness of His own people. He couldn’t understand why God was allowing them to live sinful and immoral lives. I love that Habakkuk was bold enough to be honest with God and question Him. God responded that the people would be handed over to the Babylonians because of their wicked choices, but that Babylon would not win in the end. At the time, Babylon represented an arrogant, prideful and cruel nation.
This was not easy news for Habakkuk to deliver to the people – that they would be sent into suffering and exile. However, Habakkuk responded to God and said: “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2). He was asking God for REVIVAL! In the midst of imminent exile, Habakkuk responded with absolute faith. He knew that God had rescued His people before and he was asking for Him to do it again. Habakkuk is a beautiful example of unwavering faith, while still experiencing an unknown and frightening future.
The word revival means an awakening, a renewal, coming back to life or taking something old and creating something new. Throughout our lives, there will be instances where we are thrust into our own type of Babylon and need revival…revival from pain, fear, doubt and uncertainty. We live in a world surrounded by tragedy and suffering. Add to this, the current political and cultural divide, it’s easy to turn from faith to frustration. Yet, Habakkuk is a stunning reminder that in the middle of pain and uncertainty, we can still have faith in a holy and all-powerful God. A God who is not bound by the limitations of this world, who knew you before you were woven in your mother’s womb and who already has the answers you’re waiting for on the other side of the storm.
But, you must first pray to God that He will start a revival within you. Ask that He remove anything that would prevent you from being all that He’s called you to be. Be brave enough to remove the things within you that aren’t a reflection of Jesus, and instead embrace the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). In order for revival to spread and effect needed change and renewal, we must live with a Spirit of revival. There is nothing that can stop you from experiencing a renewed life. It doesn’t matter what choices (good or bad) you’ve made in the past and what your present circumstance is. In a hospital, in financial turmoil, in a broken relationship or in a jail—you can have revival anywhere. Revival starts with you, exactly where you are!
Prayer for REVIVAL: Lord Jesus, I want revival right now – let it start with me. Open my eyes, unlock my ears, give me a new heart, bring me back to life and give me new revelation. I pray you will start a fire within my soul, so I can be you in this dark and hurting world. Do a work of illumination for me to see where You would have me go, to start a revival of Your love that cannot be stopped. I know the power of Jesus is unstoppable!
