"Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?" (Psalm 85:6, NKJV)

As a child, when my church announced a revival, I knew this meant our family would be attending services every night. My parents were faithful and would not miss a night. Revival usually meant a full week of services, or perhaps even longer as God moved with power and conviction.

If it was warm weather, our pastor might announce a "tent revival." This was a different kind of church, and even as a child I felt the excitement. The lively singing and anointed preaching would fill the night air, the sound reaching well beyond the canvas tent. Even if the curious would not join us inside, some would often lingered outside just to observe.

WHERE REVIVAL BEGINS

Revival is defined as: (1) a period of renewed religious interest, or (2) an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings (Merriam Webster Dictionary). Yet, revival is more than just a series of meetings. True revival always begins within our hearts.

Some describe revival as a time of "getting serious about God" or as "being renewed in the Spirit." We feel a new awareness of spiritual things. Some describe it as heartfelt worship, renewal, repentance, returning to our first love, and God pouring His Spirit out on His people. Revival is also God at work in the hearts of unbelievers.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a well-known minister of the 1800's said, "Revival begins by Christians getting right first and then spills over into the world." In other words, revival begins with me and with you. Our personal revival begins on our knees in our prayer closet.

As we position ourselves for revival, the change becomes evident in our lives. We approach God with humility and a repentant spirit. Our hunger for God grows stronger, and our desire to obey His Word increases. We feel a greater burden for the lost, and our prayer life takes on a new passion and depth. We long for a greater measure of holiness and righteousness in our lives.

HINDERANCES TO REVIVAL

If we are not experiencing personal revival, Romans 13:11 offers one possible reason: sleepiness.

"And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed." (ESV)

Could it be that we have grown complacent, even careless, in our walk with the Lord? Perhaps there are areas in which little sins have slipped in. If so, we must shake ourselves awake, become alert and aware.

When John the Revelator wrote of the church in Laodicea, he warned about complacency and self-sufficiency.

"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:15-17, NKJV)

We live in perilous times. Our world desperately needs a move of God. As we seek revival in our own heart, it will then expand to our family, our church, our city, and our nation.

It's time to pray for revival.

Devotion by Mary Loudermilk