Daily Devotion
Revival Starts Within
By: Marissa Wolf
“Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.”
Psalm 143:11
Revival is something that we all need, but it has to start with us and our very own hearts. We have to be willing to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, completely surrender ourselves to Him, die to the flesh and crucify it with its affections and lust. (See: James 4:7-10 and Galatians 5:24). We can’t revive ourselves on our own, that’s not how it works. We’re not our own superhero and we can’t save ourselves, we don’t have that power. We need Christ to revive and save us and to be born again in Him. (See: Acts 4:12 and John 15:5). Christ is the only One who has that power to be our Superhero!
God changes us from the inside out. He takes our once cold and calloused hearts that were filled with a lust for the world and sin and He transforms them and renews our minds from unclean to sober. (See: Romans 12:1-2).
Sin will keep trying to crawl back into our lives through that of the devil, but each time we must discern it and deny the flesh once again. (See: Luke 9:23). We have to learn how to discern the devil “peeing in our ear” versus that which is godly. We must not give into the devil’s temptations, and if or when we do we shouldn’t let that discourage us, but to genuinely repent and seek forgiveness on such things. (See: 1 Corinthians 10:13 and Acts 3:19).
Revival takes strength that only Christ can give us. Revival isn’t always going to “feel pretty” and the flesh or sin in us may not be something we are always going to want to give up or crucify at first. Revival may convict and call out a sin in us that we might be practicing and have to willingly give it up. Correction done in love may not always be pleasing to the eyes or ears, but it is necessary to grow in Christian maturity.
We have to be willing to be rebuked when necessary. God disciplines those He loves. (See: Hebrews 12:6-7). Everything works together for good to those that love God. (See: Romans 8:28). Our trials and mistakes are to bring us closer to the Lord if we allow them to do so.
Once the Lord has revived us, we have been set apart from the world. We are in what is called the sanctification process. Sanctification won’t happen overnight, it’s a lifelong procedure. It takes time to be sanctified and for all of the impurities to be removed. Jesus saves us every single day! We have to choose each day whom we will serve. (See: Joshua 24:15). We have to ask the Lord to be our Savior and Guide daily. It’s not just a one-and-done “magical prayer.” It is so much more than that. We need to call upon the name of the Lord, and believe in our hearts that God has raised Jesus from the dead. (See: Romans 10:8-9).
Being in God’s Word will show us how to not be conformed to this world. Reading It is great, hearing It is great, but in order for the change of revival to truly be complete, we also have to do the Word and not just hear or read It. (See: James 1:22-25). Obeying the Lord’s commandments, hiding the Scriptures in our hearts, and praying always with all prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving is how we can withstand against the wiles of the devil and overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb! (See: John 14:15, Psalm 119:11, Philippians 4:6-7, and Ephesians 6:18).
Revival isn’t something that can be gained through self-help books. As the world likes to put the focus on self-healing, we are called to deny the flesh and to die to ourselves. (See: Galatians 2:20). The world is so focused on “healing the inner child”, but in self-oriented “healing ways” which is not how God calls us to do things. The world wants to affirm watered down correction and make sure our “inner child” doesn’t face anymore trauma, trials, or hurt, but instead to focus on empowering thoughts through self-discovery, positivity and manifestation which is all rooted in self-worship, which is something we must cast to the Lord, repent of, and seek forgiveness on. Sanctification is not self-discovery in fact, it is quite the opposite. It is death to self and learning how to be Christ dependent. The world wants to provide a “safe space” for our “inner child”, but yet they fail to go to Christ for He is the safest space we could ever go to for comfort and correction. The Lord is the only Refuge we could ever need. (See: Psalm 91).
Yes, it is important for our inner child in us to be healed, but not through the way the world does it. For if we go the world’s ways, we will still never be complete as that aching hole in our heart will still be left unsatisfied and unfulfilled. (See: Proverbs 27:20 and Psalm 119:174). It’s a God-sized hole in our heart that only the One true Biblical God could fill. He made that very heart that is within you. He wants you to stop following your heart and to start following Him. Our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked which is why we shouldn’t be following them. (See: Jeremiah 17:9-10). Our hearts don’t know what is best for us, only God does. God is truth, light, and in Him is no darkness at all. He has His best plan for each and every single one of us written out. He thought of us and His plans for us before we were ever born! (See: Jeremiah 29:11, John 14:6, 1 John 1:5, and Jeremiah 1:5).
There is only one way to Heaven and it is not following after your own heart or self. That is not included in the narrow path. (See: Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Are you willing to resist the devil and humbly submit yourself to the Lord? The Bible states that those who reject God unto death end up in the Lake of Fire separated from God for eternity. Being in the Lake of Fire isn’t going to be the party that most people think it will be. It’s going to be an eternal and unpleasant torment which many will discover because they reject Christ. Is that where you want to end up? Is that what you want to happen to you? Don’t let it be you, but rather choose this day whom you will serve. Choose Jesus and let His revival spring forth within you today! Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit and to empower you to walk in His ways. He will readily be your Guide!
Will you allow Jesus to revive you? Are you being sanctified by the blood of Christ? Do you daily crucify and deny the flesh with its affections and lusts? Do you go to the Lord and His Word for truth? Is there any repenting you need to do? Do you go to the Lord for comfort and correction? Do you find safety in God alone? Are you willing to be rebuked and corrected when necessary? Have you stopped following your heart? Do you follow God alone?
“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
Romans 8:11
