Personal Revival is The Genesis

In the previous blog article, I mentioned the process that leads to revival and a national awakening. In this article I want to address our own personal revival that can become the catalyst for larger accomplishments. To begin this discussion, we need to examine some scriptural illustrations of Jesus as a guide for today’s need.

Jesus’ Habit of Withdrawing

Mark 1:12,13, 35-37 – Jesus begins his ministry with 40 days in the wilderness (12,13) and then early in the darkness of morning, Jesus finds a solitary place. Notice the Disciples remarks; “…Everyone is looking for you!” It seems logical that if Jesus, part of the Trinity pulled away for prayer that we should be pulled away from our screens to spend some one-on-one time with the Creator.

Mark 6:45-50 – Between the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water, He went to the mountainside to pray. Let’s state the facts of observation, The miracles that were being performed were not like anything people had previously witnessed. Yet, the Savior of the world maintained a foundation of prayer and intimacy with His Father.

Luke 5:12-16 – Jesus heals the leprous man. The report of this miracle brought the crowds to Jesus, yet during opportunity Jesus does not allow fame to take precedence over His prayer life.

Where Is Revival Located?

Pastor Jon Tyson of the Church For The City in New York suggests a five part response that is confirmed by other scholars.

Prepare and Embrace the Crystallization of Discontent – This is the moment the battered spouse decides to leave. It is the moment you wake up to the realization, I am in a cult. It is the moment the addict realizes a need for help and sets his/her purpose on change. With the foundations of our civilization shaking, right now is a moment in history to realize my religious systems and methodologies are broken. I need transformation. Reformed and reborn for such a time as this.

Be Willing to See Your Personal Inadequacies – This part of the journey is painful. However, this is one of the great things God can do for us, awakening a consciousness of our unpreparedness. It is easier to maintain surface happiness when we believe we have arrived.

Seek God in New Ways – If you are not experiencing the crystallization of discontent or seeing your own inadequacies, try seeking God in new ways. Start by practicing spiritual disciplines you have never attempted. Dallas Willard is a great author that has wrote numerous books on spiritual disciplines. His classic The Spirit of The Disciplines  is an excellent resource. Another book of Willard is Renovation of The Heart. Seeing God in new ways can enlighten your spirit-man by given fresh insight to old revelations or even new revelations.

Rededicate Yourself to A Life of Prayer – One of the most effective ways to stir revival is to dedicate ourselves to a life of prayer. Pastor Tyson’s church in New York City invests a quarter million dollars to support their prayer endeavors. What would it look like if we invested at a higher level in renewing prayer in our life? How would that stir hunger in your life? How would it change your life rhythms? 

Reorient Your Life Around A Desire for Personal Revival – The simple truth of the matter is that unless you make some changes in our life and dig into a new desire for God, we probably will not experience the inner renewal and revival that we desire to see in the lives of people around us.