Personal Revival

August 2020

Revival. What comes to mind when you hear that word? Perhaps it's an image of a tent meeting in which one or multiple people are intensely preaching the Word. Maybe it's an image of a healing service. These are both correct, but they are only the aftermath of ​personal​ revival. For if we do not have personal revival in our lives, we will have no chance of seeing healings, people saved, etc.

Nearly all Christians, including myself, want God to send His Holy Spirit so we can see miracles, signs, and wonders now. We want to set up the tent and watch the Spirit fall. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. While God can do whatever He wants, there is a process. There is nothing wrong with wanting revival, but we should first want revival in our own lives. It is not as flashy as a tent meeting, but it is just as impactful, if not more.

"Tent revivals are amazing, but the best tent revivals are a tent for two– just Jesus and you. We must first be revived in order to be ready for revival." – Bethany Huff

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Psalm 27:4 ESV)

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

(Matthew 6:5-6 ESV)

According to ​Merriam-Webster Dictionary​, the word ​‘Revival’ ​means, “​An improvement in the condition or strength of something.” 'Revival', or 'revive', comes from the Latin roots re-, meaning “again”, and vivere, meaning “to live”. So, when we talk about revival, we are actually talking about living again and an improvement in condition.

This means that personal revival can only occur when we die to self every day. We must die to fleshly desires and yield to His Heavenly desires, for It is impossible to revive someone if they are not dead. When we realize that we are nothing without Him and fully let Him take over our lives, then and only then can personal revival occur. We must die to self if we want to be revived and have an improved condition.

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”

(Luke 9:23 ESV)

“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

(Galatians 5:24 ESV)

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

(Romans 6:1-4 ESV)

Just like a personal trainer and how they must work on themselves before they can train others, believers in Christ must have personal revival before they can have global revival.

I encourage every believer to seek the face of Jesus, get alone with Him every day, and make it a habit to die to self every day. This does not mean it will be easy with a crazy schedule, energetic kids, long work hours, schoolwork, and whatever else life brings our way. However, if we want to have revival for the nations, we must first start with ourselves.

Time is short. The clock is ticking and Jesus is coming back sooner than we think. This is prime–time to have personal revival and hear what is on our Father God’s heart. The harvest is coming very soon, and if we don’t have a fresh and personal outpouring of His spirit and clear direction, we will miss what He is doing. A new wave of the Lord is coming and it is unlike anything we could ever have dreamed of. It is vital that we have a personal revival so that we will be prepared for what God is about to do. Let's get alone with the Father, die to self daily, and be revived for the next season that is before us.

https://www.biblegateway.com. Accessed 30 Jun. 2020.

“Revival.” ​Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary​, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revival. Accessed 30 Jun. 2020.