Revival in the Land

Currently, my Women of the Word group is studying and preparing for personal revival. The very first lesson made me cry. Really. I had to admit, that our sessions had become more of my weekly social time, than intimacy with God. I had become more invested with being with the group than with God. Jesus no longer my true first love. I had to repent. Then I learned from Nance that to leave or forget my first love, in the original language, means to dismiss or send away. That broke my heart, and I was grieved. I couldn't talk straight the rest of the time. I wanted to crawl under the table. Maybe that's where I need to be. So broken up over my sin, that I must grieve and mourn under the table. Today we talked about pride and humility.

 Psalm 31:23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people!
    The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
    but the proud he pays back in full.

The last part gave me a bit of a jolt. I don't want God to pay me back for that. He's creative! 

So often we think of revival as a planned community event. I'm learning more and more that this not revival. The authors of the study point out clearly that "The revival that will be talking about is for God's people-those who by faith in Jesus Christ have received salvation and belong to Him. (People who do not belong to God cannot be 'revived'; they must first be regenerated!)"

The word 'revival' means: a : renewed attention to or interest in something, b  : a period of renewed religious interest: Synonyms: reanimation, rebirth, regeneration, rejuvenation,rejuvenescence, renewal, resurgence, resurrection,resuscitation, revitalization, revivification

I like the words rebirth, resurrection, resuscitation. All of the above words start with the prefix 're' - which means again. If I've never loved Jesus, I can't have revival. Good news for the Christian! Because we have walked with Jesus before, you and I can be revived and resuscitated, by the very breath of God. So glad that wants me closer to Him. So glad that HE wants me so much that HE  initiated in my heart a desire to be more intimate with Him. So grateful for the Living God that has provided in me a living and precious hope for fulfilled and sure revival.