TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Have you watched the news this week? Many eyes are on Asbury University in Kentucky, where for 10+ days, there’s been what seems to be revival. Thousands have traveled to the university for worship, and according to CBN, the line is over half a mile long. And another CBN article says revival is starting at Lee (Tennessee), Cedarville (Ohio), and Sanford (Alabama) Universities.
All this is happening as the new movie, “Jesus Revolution,” is about to release — a film based on the last major revival that happened in America. Coincidence? If you know me, you know I don’t believe in those!
This is what we’ve been praying for!!!! THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MOVING!!!!!
And it’s not just Christian news reporting this! The revival has been shared on Fox News, Daily Wire, and other news outlets. CNN even covered it, though its “unbiased journalism” is flecked with the author’s quote / unquote sort of sarcasm. Not surprising, though, coming from CNN, where reporting the facts without commentary is an archaic concept.
Still…. This is exciting, y’all!!! It’s certainly a most welcome headline in the middle of all the negativity. This morning on Fox News, for example: swat raid, CDC warns of another virus, mother killed, bullying at school, North Korean missile tests, gender ideology, kids party ends in bloodbath, CA bishop murdered, police officer killed in line of duty, and human trafficking.
Talk about a valid argument about why we need to start our day with Jesus!!! Yes — please bring more reports of revival!!!!!!!
I’m reading these revival headlines with hope, excited about the possibilities. Yet, an article on Not the Bee this week put a damper on my enthusiasm. The article essentially said — hold on, don’t get too excited… and made their case about why revival doesn’t necessarily lead to lasting change. The article is titled, “Let’s have some real talk about this whole Asbury revival thing. We’ll start with a lesson from the Western Front.” I’m going to reference it quite a bit, so you may want to find it / read it real quick…
Despite my frustration with the author’s concerns, I don’t disagree with much of what he said. I’ve been there, too…. In the middle of powerful worship, the energy is incredible and even euphoric! It’s a glimpse of what it will be like when we get to heaven, when our worship of God will be continuous!! And it’s hard to imagine ever losing that amazing feeling. But then, the conference or service ends, and real life resumes… it’s very hard to hold on to that kind of fervor long term… especially as we get distracted by bills and life obligations.
Do I think all of these conversions are genuine? I’d like to believe they are, but we all know that sometimes, we do things in the moment that we don’t necessarily mean. So I’m sure there are some false converts in the middle of this revival… it’s as Jesus explained in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13). In verses 5-7, He said, “Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them.”
No doubt, some of the sown seed during these revivals will fall on shallow ground. Those are the ones who may be part of this revival, make a profession of faith, and then — return to their day-to-day unchanged by the experience. They will not bear any fruit and will look no different from the world.
But our hope for this revival needs to be in verse 8. Jesus said, “But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
What if it’s one person from this revival that Jesus uses to make lasting change? How AH. MAZ. ING. is that idea?!?!
Put a pin there and let’s go back to the Not the Bee article… the author asked this rhetorical question: “…is it going to radically change our culture, lead us away from our societal decline, and lead to repentance across the land?” to which he wrote, “No.”
Pull out the pin. I disagree. This is where I think the author missed an opportunity. We can’t put limits on the Holy Spirit. After all, we know from Jonah, God’s Spirit moved so powerfully in Nineveh, “So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them” (Jonah 3:5).
All of them. From the king to the poorest peasant. 120,000k+ people (Jonah 4:11).
We can never underestimate what God will do when He brings revival.
Another example is Mordecai Ham. Ever heard of him? He’s the man who led Billy Graham to Christ.
If he’s not an example of how the Holy Spirit can use one man in amazing ways, I don’t know what is… he led the man to Christ who would lead millions to Christ.
And it started in a revival tent.
Let’s be hopeful. We can’t pray for revival and then be skeptical when it seems that we’re seeing an answer to our prayers!!! Let’s praise God for hearing and answering our prayers!!! We don’t stop praying now — keep praying!!! Ask for more!!! We desperately need it!!!
In our chaotic, broken world that calls good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20, 2 Timothy 3:1-4), we aren’t going to be saved by politicians… we aren’t going to be rescued by government… but we have the hope of our almighty God who has promised, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Take Him at His word and PRAY!!!
I’m motivated and re-energized by the revival happening. And my morning alarm is set for 7:14 to remind myself to pray — to pray for our leaders, our nation, our world… and specifically for godly men and women to rise up… for the Holy Spirit to move in lives and work miracles and give us another chance to tell others about Jesus.
Today, as you pray, will you join me? Keep praying for revival. Pray for the Lord to move His Spirit… heal our lands… and turn the lost to Him. Pray for the seed to fall on fertile ground. Remember, all who have breath are not a lost cause, no matter how impossible or unlikely their conversion may seem. God is stronger than the most stubborn, which I find so comforting in my own prayers for loved ones… because I know it’s true. After all, He changed me.
Pray for these students and all who are in revival to be changed and be willing to be used by the Holy Spirit to help our country return to Christian values. Pray for God to bless the release of “Jesus Revolution” and use this to point people to the saving grace of Jesus.
SHARING ••• My Grace-Full Life is written by Denise Heidel. You are welcome to share anything I write, but please credit my writing and graphics accordingly. Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Subscribe through my website to have My Grace-Full Life delivered to your email. You can unsubscribe at any time. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the NKJV translation.
