REVIVAL.

Revival: The definition is, “an improvement in the condition or strength of something.” This term revival is something devoted Christians dream of and pray for. In case you haven’t heard, it has been one month since a revival began in the United States! Yes, from February 8-February 24, 2023 there was a 17-day long revival that happened at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. It was an unplanned event in human terms, but God had been moving hearts and calling people to pray years and years before!

I watched an interesting interview done in Spanish of a few guys, one a Mexican American and the other a current Latino student at Asbury. The Mexican American had driven 30 plus hours to attend this revival while it was still in full force. It was noted that a strong presence of God’s Spirit could be felt in the streets leading up to Asbury University, and upon arrival expectations were more than surpassed. They reminded their listeners that there was no human famous speaker, name, or title for this event other than seeking and praising Our JESUS! University leaders met in a closet and prayed for God’s direction; they were led to decline the many offers from famous Christian speakers to “keep the revival going.” People were praying in many languages with God-seekers from all parts of the world represented. The beauty of it was in its simplicity: nothing was done with flashy lights so as to attract an overly inundated media culture. The purpose of this revival became a gathering to connect to the Father through prayer and worship as believers called out to Him together as one. What beauty and how pleasing to God this is!

Revival. Where does it begin? The YouTube testimony I heard from one of the young men who attends the university is that it was a typical 10am Chapel service with a speaker and a time of singing. It reminds me of the gathering of the first Christians at Pentecost in the book of Acts because there too God poured out His Spirit in the morning! As the worship was ending, a small group of less than twenty felt a strong urge to continue on in adoration and prayer. They were supposed to go to their classes and fulfill a normal day of university life, but God had laid something different on their hearts. The revival wasn’t even termed as such until later that day and into the evening when it was evident God was still ministering; people desired to stay into the night. This is when the staff had to decide whether to close the service or allow it to continue.

Praise God it was decided that the students would be given permission to continue in worship and prayer throughout the night. People who never fully surrendered to Christ began to do so, others recommitted their lives, many began to be freed of strongholds like fear and guilt, and healing began to occur. I was so pleased to hear this is how the revival began: Humble and simple hearts surrendered to the King of Kings and God choosing to meet them in a special way, one that would begin a revival in the lives of those present and spread around the world. Are there still people who have not been transformed? Yes. That is why I believe true revival begins in a moment but doesn’t cease in that place. Remember the definition: “an improvement in the condition or strength of something.” When we are in God’s presence and are wholly devoted to praising His name and laying down our burdens, WE are IMPROVED. We can by God’s power and love be strengthened after glorifying His name and humbling ourselves, and begin to live lives that reflect and scream such a transformation!

I personally have noticed a revival in my own life in the past few years. I have felt more and more drawn to music as a way to reach this generation with the presence and truth of Jesus. My voice isn’t “American Idol material”, my piano and ukulele musical abilities aren’t anything extraordinary, but if I can carry a tune and lead others to know God then I am more than willing to be an ordinary servant of His truth. He is worthy of my time, my energy, and my talents even if the world says they are lacking in perfection. I need to be willing to make a fool of myself for my Savior, to get rid of my own inhibitions, pride, shame and insecurities! If I love God with all my heart and I know He is the only One worth living for, may my life show it unabashedly.

We are hungry, hungry for more of God, but we let ourselves be satisfied with crumbs instead of a feast, a drop of water instead of a stream, and a flighty religious feeling about God instead of a personal relationship with Our loving and gracious Heavenly Father. True revival happens when the music is turned off and real life begins. What happened at Asbury University was a stirring of hearts surrendered to Our Lord Jesus Christ, longing for more of Him. I pray the walking out of this closeness with God would be what convinces the lost that we truly have found Our Savior!

I’ll leave you with this final word from Jesus Himself when he said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 This is a spiritual hunger, a starvation of our souls that can only be fed with God and the truth found in His Word!

Dear ones, in the day-to-day don’t ever think your thirsty soul can be quenched apart from Him. Such a basic truth but oh such conviction as our hearts easily wander to self-reliance and self-indulgence. Have a blessed Easter season celebrating the One who gave it all for YOU and ME. Please leave a comment to let me know you were here and any encouragement you have found in knowing there is a remnant of believers whose hearts are close to Our Father! Below is a powerful song we can sing knowing Our God, Our Jesus, is ALIVE! AMEN!