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Day 21

Pastor Caleb Culver

Topic: Revival

Scripture Reference: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Devotional:

Revival begins with repentance. 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Acts 3:19 give us no path to revival except through the doorway of humbling ourselves and repenting:

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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV)

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you. (Acts 3:19 NIV)

If there is no humbling of ourselves, there is no revival.

Because of this clear biblical principle, whenever there is a prayer meeting, or like today, a day dedicated to prayer for revival, I always begin in the place of humbling myself. I start by acknowledging to the Lord that I have tried to do things my own way, in my own strength, but I am yielding myself to His plans and His purposes. I might even get in a physical posture, such as kneeling or bowing before Him, to reflect my heart posture of going low before Him.

It can be very easy for me to subconsciously lump everything that I want, all really good things, and put the label of revival on that and contend for those things. But the truth is, although we know what revival is (when God awakens and reveals His power and nature in and through His church), we don’t really know how it will look or who it will come through.

Revival begins when the church comes together, empties herself of her wants and desires, acknowledges her utter dependence on God, and then partners through the Spirit in prayer to bring God-breathed revival to life. Because of this, revival on a personal level works the same way. It starts with us humbling ourselves, admitting our complete and utter need for God, confessing all of the ways we have tried to live life in our own strength, and then asking for the Lord to breathe on us to bring us new life.

Take a moment right now to allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart.

• What are the ways your will and desires stand in opposition to God?
• What are the areas of your heart that God has yet to be given Lordship over?
• What things have you placed in higher value and regard than the presence of God?
• Are you hungry for God to move? If not, why is that?
• Is your heart longing to see God demonstrate His love and power in Kalamazoo?

Anything the Lord reveals as an obstacle, just confess it to Him and ask for the grace to bow low.

Jesus, we humble ourselves before You. We are in need of personal, family, churchwide, and citywide revival. We need You to awaken us. We need You to stir us in our love for You and for others. Revive us, according to Your Word. We repent, so that times of refreshing can come. We are Your people called by Your name, and we humble ourselves, turn from our sin, and we pray that You would send revival to our land. Amen.