“And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.” ~ Ezra 9:8
REFERENCE:
Ezra, the scribe and the leader of the Israelites, bemoaned the morally deplorable state they had plunged into. Having spent years in captivity amongst the Babylonians, Israel turned from God to the idols of Babylon. Ezra decided to fast for God to reclaim the people’s hearts, desiring a revival. Things were so bad that he just wanted a measure of revival, that God would ignite the fire within His people again. It is a call to spiritual awakening and personal revival.
Cares burden us today, yet God wants us not to lose sight of our deep need for revival – the igniting of the fire within. He wants to breathe new life into every aspect of your being. Let us explore the path to personal revival and its transformative power.
a. Recognize Your Need for Revival: This is the starting point. You know how your heart has strayed from God, the carnality of your heart, and the dying of your prayer fire. David knew that; he cried to God, “…renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Admit that you have grown complacent or distracted from God, and invite Him to examine and revive you from within.
b. Seek God Sincerely: Revival is a matter of the heart, not just mouth or emotions. It is a deep yearning for God. “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Set aside time for prayer, Bible study, and worship. Cultivate a hunger for God’s presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to deeply transform your inner man.
c. Repent and Yield: Revival is born in the place of repentance. Dig within and repent of acts of sin and disobedience to God. Then, give God the reins of your life. To repent is to turn a new leaf and have a change of mind. Confess any wrongdoing and yield yourself to His loving grace. Embrace forgiveness and allow God to cleanse and renew you completely.
d. Daily Devotion: Revival is a continuous journey, not a one-off good feeling. Be committed to spending time daily with God to ignite the fire within. Remain prayerful and hungry for God’s word. Galatians 5:25 (ESV) says, “Keep in step with the Spirit.” Be sensitive to His leading and embrace His transforming power in every area of your life.
Ezra knew that God could not do much with a backslidden, cold people. For their return from captivity and restoration to be complete, they needed revival. Revival only answers to sustained hunger; you must determine today how bad you want it; if you want it bad enough, then expect God to ignite a fire within you. You can then watch all areas of your life transform.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Psalm 51:10, Matthew 5:6, Acts 3:19
PRAYER:
+ Dear Lord, ignite a revival fire within me, renewing my passion for You and Your Kingdom.
+ Reveal any areas of sin or complacency in my life. Grant me the strength to repent and surrender them to You.
+ Holy Spirit, empower me to cultivate a lifestyle of devotion, walking closely with You and experiencing a continuous renewal in Your presence.
