Let Revival Come

  If you are like me you have been raised to think that a revival is a get out of bed shouting, having a pep in your step, always happy 24/7, boiling over with excitement all the time kind of experience. But is it really? I know of people, including myself, that have been in a revival but it's not been a happy experience at all. Revival can come in many different ways but its not strictly an upper room experience. For example, my revival has been a lot of correction and let me tell you I haven't been shouting with joy about it. It's not that I am bitter or unhappy about it, I am actually grateful for every moment because I know God is doing a work in me. My greatest desire has always been to please the LORD and be closer to Him. He is answering my prayers but not in the way that I thought He would. So why is correction considered a revival? Let me explain.

     The reason I say correction is a revival is because it changes you. When we do something that is wrong and someone brings it to our attention we apologize  for it and try to do better from then on. That is if we are willing to accept that we were wrong. Which reminds me, I have been around so many people at work, church, home, etc. that never want to admit they are wrong. It's very easy to put the blame on someone else. However, we are a bigger person that has more respect and honor if we accept that we sometimes make mistakes and to admit it. Anyway my point is that it changes you. Or you can think of it as an eye opening experience. The way I am corrected is by the Word of God which is what it's there for, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).  Why does it matter? It's so that "the man (or woman) of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:17). We know that anything that God does He does for our benefit even when it doesn't seem that way. God is our Father so we have to remember that He takes on a fatherly role in our lives. That being said when we did something wrong our own fathers disciplined us so that we wouldn’t do it again, right? It's for the simple fact that when you raise your kids you want them to have respect to others, be kind, loving, etc. (Hebrews 12:9-10). So does God our Father. It's no different.

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son despise not the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the LORD loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (Hebrews 12:5-7)

     As the verse says above we are being treated as sons and daughters of God. And we know that " no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Hebrews 12:11).  That's where I am at right now. God's correction is done out of love just like you who may be parents deal with your children. The best part of the correction is the fact that it is my revival and if you are going through the same, it's yours too. Revival brings change, a rejuvenation of the spirit, a closer walk with God. And like I have said before the grief and pain we may feel at the moment will pass. It cannot and will not last forever. I said this yesterday talking to dear friends of mine, we are soldiers of the cross and it's like we are in a boot camp being trained (and corrected) to take on the fight, or to endure it. God is the commanding officer and our pastors are like our drill sergeants. Being a Christian is not a walk in the park, we have to be tough given everything we face in this world. God knows what He is doing. We may not see the benefit now but when we look back to this moment in the near future we will see the plan that God had. It will all make perfect sense. Right now just "lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12). When we finally understand that God 's purpose in our life is good then it won't be hard to praise through the storm. Remember, there is nothing in this world for free we always have to work for it. God Bless you and be encouraged to know that the correction we are facing right now is a good place to be despite how it may feel. We are going to be just fine and God will bring us through it stronger than ever.