Have you been hearing about revival recently like I have? This past February, Asbury College in Kentucky experienced a revival – one that started with a chapel service where the pastor preached on Romans 12.

“I hope you guys forget me but anything from the Holy Spirit and God’s Word would find fertile ground in your hearts and produce fruit,” he said. “Romans 12. That’s the star, okay? God’s Word and Jesus and the Holy Spirit moving in our midst, that’s what we’re hoping for.”

After the service, students stayed in the chapel to pray – and they kept praying.

More students came and went, and some even stayed overnight so as to not miss what was happening. This continued for two weeks, with more than 50,000 people coming to the college to worship, pray, and praise the Lord. People said the feeling they experienced in that room was unlike any other. A sense of peace and the Holy Spirit on the move. 

Here’s a bit more about Christian revival, according to GotQuestions.org:

Revival refers to a spiritual reawakening from a state of dormancy or stagnation in the life of a believer. It encompasses the resurfacing of a love for God, an appreciation of God’s holiness, a passion for His Word and His church, a convicting awareness of personal and corporate sin, a spirit of humility, and a desire for repentance and growth in righteousness. Revival invigorates and sometimes deepens a believer’s faith, opening his or her eyes to the truth in a fresh, new way. It generally involves the connotation of a fresh start with a clean slate, marking a new beginning of a life lived in obedience to God. Revival breaks the charm and power of the world, which blinds the eyes of men, and generates both the will and power to live in the world but not of the world.

This whole definition is helpful. I have prayed for revival in my city, country, and world, but I haven’t fully grasped the meaning of that word. I certainly didn’t think about needing a revival in my own heart before any broader re-awakening can happen. Reading stories about what happened at Asbury College and listening to my old pastor passionately speak on revival has really made me think.

God’s revealed to me how much time I spend asking Him for things when praying and how little time I spend simply talking with Him.  I am quick to go through a list of prayers in my mind, things I need from God. I’ll praise Him for who He is, but then I’ll always move right on to the checklist of what I want Him to do for me. 

I’m not saying this is bad per say. Jesus wants us to come to Him with our whole hearts. He wants to know our requests. In fact, Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Many of us have learned how to pray using the P.R.A.Y. method – praise, repent, ask, and yield. 

The problem for me is that I rarely yield. 

I spend so much time asking and so little time listening. I am usually focusing on myself, my needs, my desires, and my fears, but I forget to tune into the desires of the Father. 

 I long for revival in this world, and that revival starts with me.

The revival needs to happen in my own heart first.  

After my daughter was born, I pressed pause on this blog. I had to step away for some time because I didn’t know how to continue writing while taking care of two little kids. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to keep posting content even when I was physically and emotionally drained from my full-time job as a mom. 

Around the same time, my husband and I also quit most social media. I still check Facebook marketplace and use Pinterest from time to time, but freeing myself from Instagram has been a super healthy decision. These two choices – pressing pause on the blog and stepping away from social media – have allowed God to work in my heart in deeper ways. 

He’s revealed so much sin and areas for growth in my life. I’ve realized I actually had to stop writing because my blog had become more about me than about Christ. I want my words to share truth and encourage others. I want to be the salt and light that I’m called to be. While I do think I was doing those things (or truly trying to), I also know that I was mentally caught up in a burning desire for more views, more likes, more clicks, more comments, etc. 

I’ve been more focused on living for this world than living for Christ. By God’s grace, this is something I’m continually working through. I have to keep confessing and turning back to Him. He keeps gently showing me that I have all I need for a godly life in Christ alone (2 Peter 1:3). Like the lyrics of Cody Carnes’ song “Nothing Else,” Lord, I just want you. I pray that is the song of my heart.

I want God to keep humbling me and reminding me this world is not my home. I want Him to revive my own heart more and more, and then I pray that would spread like wildfire all around me.

A Prayer From My Journal (That You Can Pray, Too):

Oh, Lord, I confess to you my anger. My irritability. My desire for control and approval, my jealousy, my pride, and my lack of contentment. You have given me everything I need for life and godliness! You redeemed me. You are the living water that satisfies in a way nothing else can. Thank you, God.

Create in me a clean heart, Lord. I need to die to be reborn. Destroy the sinful parts of me. You must increase, and I must decrease (John 3:30). Make it so!

Continue to reveal areas of sin and temptation in my life. Forgive me. Redeem me. Lead me along the right paths to walk in Your Way. 

I pray you revive my marriage and my parenting. Revive my work. Revive my friendships and family relationships. My church and community. Our schools and government and media. 

Lord Jesus, revive my soul.

In Your mighty name, I pray. Amen.