Revival Reveals the Intentions of Your Heart

Revival, by its very nature, is unusual, as in “out of the ordinary” or “not the norm.” It also has a way of magnifying both the good and the bad in our midst. When revival comes our way, what will it reveal about us? Where will we put our emphasis? What will we become known for?

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. —Matthew 6:21, MEV

Those are important questions to ask, along with this one: Why were we praying for revival in the first place? Put another way: What were we asking God to do and why were we so desperate for a fresh move of the Spirit?

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. —Matthew 5:8, MEV

Were we praying for revival because our people had become complacent and worldly? Or was it because the lost were not getting saved? Or because young people were dropping out of church? Or because we sensed our lack of spiritual power and authority? Or because we were grieved that the name of the Lord was being mocked in our community? Or because our nation was in the midst of a spiritual and moral nosedive and only revival and awakening would turn the tide? Why were we praying for revival in the first place? If we want to see revival sustained, it is essential that we keep these questions before us lest we forget the purpose and goal of the revival for which we had prayed so fervently.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things. And an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. —Matthew 12:35

It is all too easy to take our eyes off the purposes and goals of the revival. Think of Elijah missing the still small voice of God at Mt. Horeb in 1 Kings 19 because he was so fascinated by the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. Thankfully, he did not, because he was not there to see a demonstration of wind or of earthquakes or of fire. He was there to hear from the Lord.

In the same way, we must ask ourselves again, “Why were we praying for revival for so many years? Why were we fasting and praying and seeking and longing? Was it for the wind or the earthquake or the fire, or was it to encounter the Lord?”

Let us never lose sight of the essentials, and let’s keep those essentials at the forefront of our own hearts and minds.

Question: What treasures have you stored up in your heart?

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse them from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. - Hebrews 10:22, MEV