What does Revival mean to you?

Our perceptions are sometimes off. Like when my husband was first hired as a police officer, I almost fell off my chair when he told me he would he working nights … alone. No partner, as perhaps I had seen on multiple television shows.

There are some departments who do send patrol out two x two, but not Jason’s.

Amidst “off-perceptions”, preconceived ideas, and a whole bunch of unteachable pride, we can get ourselves into trouble. Spiritual trouble, that is.

The Lord detests all the proud of heart, Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished (Proverbs 16:5).

When I began praying for Revival, I was asking the Lord to wake up the sleepers and draw the lost. Throughout this process of prayerful preparation for next week’s Revival services, I am, and have been, humbled.

Repentance shall be part of our heart’s preparation to serve Our Holy Lord. It shall be a regular part of our prayer life.

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

Why should we ever assume, even if His call is clear in our ears, that we do not need to repent? Or maybe we are lazy about living out His word, and perhaps sitting among believers each Sunday who ignore repentance.

Do you attend a service where repentance is built into worship and/or preached about?

Last week at our community prayer meeting, we collectively repented for so many things. Peace flowed like a river through my heart. I opened my eyes to see a brother on his knees and received a gesture of genuine affection from another. In awe of His holy power, I pondered why we as His Church don’t do this more often, corporately. True repentance involves both an internal and an outward change. Usually, once God does His tweaking on the inside, the aromatic fruit begin to blossom, as it did when I was approached with utter warmness after praying.

Perhaps this power embedded in true repentance is part of God answering the prayer to wake up the sleepers, though initially I wasn’t aware I was comfy under blankets snoozing away.

This world is watching, waiting, hunting ways to tear people away from Jesus. I have read numerous articles as of late that chronicle how His Church has become more secular, and therefore less obedient to Christ.

Jesus is the head of our body of believers.

He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is the body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So He is first in everything (Colossians 1:17-18).

Have we decapitated Him?

Our own ideas, jealousy over what made X-church grow, the wealthy givers need to be pleased or the budget will suffer, preaching relationship with Jesus when we don’t spend time with Him ourselves.

Will He answer our prayers for revival if we who know His truth don’t wake up?

I am struggling to go forth in my seminary training to be a pastor, for that is not how I desire to use the days given to me on earth.

Lord, revive Your sleeping leaders or release them.

Lord, show Your glory by humbling Your body and growing Your kingdom.

Lord, help us to lift You high no matter the circumstances we face, no matter the opposition, no matter the threats, no matter the enemy’s useless attempts to whittle us out of Your hands.

Lord, last but definitely not least, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

In Your mighty Name Jesus we pray, Amen.

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If you are willing to share, I welcome your thoughts on what Revival means to you.

There are so many things I want to say, but the Lord gave me these words. May we all heed His warnings that have come in the form of Covid, great and violent storms, wars, fires, earthquakes.

I am here to pray for you. Please email any requests that will be kept confidential to juliedibblespeaks@gmail.com.

If there is anything written here that doesn’t make sense or that you don’t understand, I am here to seek His truth to help you.

In His love and for His glory,

Julie

P.S. All photos are from Pixabay.com.