REVIVE ME.

Romans 12:11 "Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame."[MSG Bible] "Keep your passion boiling hot."[TPT]
Psalms 119:25 "My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to your word." [NKJV]

It is so easy to fall into a rut and the dangerous thing is not realizing it soon enough. Many of the tasks we do are so ordinary and normal and over time they become banalities ; what used to bring so much exhilaration ends up in the pile of things I have to do . How can we still enjoy these things no matter how mundane they get?

The notion that we will always have a hundred percent energy levels and excitement as we did when we first got involved in something is false. Truth is,  we will have to work hard at reviving the joys it once brought us. It’s like we are naturally built to always crave the “next new and best thing” that we believe brings a new wave of satisfaction. But how do you move onto the next when all you have is all you could ever need?

When you first got born again, do you remember how exciting and invested you were in pursuing the new found relationship? How high your  levels of faith were? the uncontainable passion you had when you opened the pages of the Bible and how eager you were  for your quiet time? Do you remember your commitment to corporate fellowships? How would you rate your current reality in comparison? If we are honest, we sometimes find ourselves in a rut when it comes to salvation ; denoted by how we exercise essential disciplines. As a result, we border on what Revelation 3:15-16 refers to as the lukewarm Christian, who is distasteful to the Lord. People who become advocates of religious activity instead of relationship.

• You could be praying but lack faith, power, expectancy or the element of heartfelt prayers which move God.
• You could be dutifully doing your devotion; busy flipping to complete instead of searching for the voice of God in those pages by lingering.

During this season, a lot is going on around us and within us our assertion has been tested, spiritually. While it may look like we have all the time to engage and spend time with God, our hearts have been in serious spring cleaning phases. Our true priorities have been revealed and our passions dissected bring to light the  hidden idols. Over the past few  weeks,  I got lost in space. I felt like I was heading into a spiritual funk ; snoozing my alarm a little bit longer, dragging through and being impatient in my study time. I had to cry to God to revive me and set order in my life. I had to ask Him to stretch my capacity for more because one of the things that keeps a fire small is containment. It begun with a self examination to pinpoint what was going on in my life (generally) that was bleeding into my spiritual health.

“God doesn’t want an affair, He wants a relationship. Seeking His presence should be a full time job.” Apostle Joshua Selman

Revive: restore to life, take up again, renew; make alive

So how do I know my fire is getting dimmer, you may ask. I believe it begins with a moment by moment realization through the power of the Holy Spirit and not your feelings. He alone can help us be mindful of God’s presence in our lives or lack thereof. Allowing the Holy Spirit to uncover present realities give room for God to meet us right there and minister to our hearts.

So how do we re ignite our passion for God? There is no formula but I believe in asking God and in giving marching orders to our hearts so we keep doing what we ought to. You need not be in a spiritual funk to cry for revival, it is the inbuilt desire of every believer with a hunger for God because there are different dimensions to access in the spiritual realm.

ASK GOD

Revival is the work of the Holy Spirit. The rest of the practical steps you will take will be a response to the reviving work; It could mean you change your study time and wake up a little bit earlier, pause on the plan you were doing, start a new book in the bible , reembark on a themed study, get an accountability partner or it could mean you include some new aspects into your quiet time that you perhaps weren’t doing e.g. journaling or just switching it up. It could mean you stop using your phone app and grab a physical copy of the Bible. It could mean you take a day off from your phone and just rest in God for Him to fuel you. However it looks like, do it.

1. Will you not revive us again? That your people may rejoice in you? Psalm 85:6
2. Revive me according to your word Psalms 119:25 ; Psalms 119:107 :
3. Revive me in your righteousness . Psalms 119:40
4. Revive me according to your loving kindness Psalms 119:88. Psalms 119:159
5. Revive me according to your judgement . Psalms 119:156

COMMAND YOUR SOUL, HEART AND MIND

No better example than David’s cry in Psalms 103:1 “Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Talking to yourself may seem crazy but it is essential because life transforming conversations happen best within an individual. David definitely had a good chat with his heart and there is no way he remained the same. When we look back on God’s goodness we get a pump of praise in us and that is one way of getting out of the funk, go through your old journals, recount all of His goodness and your heart will be in tune because no one that tastes of Him and His doings remains unmoved.

Additionally, keep searching out His truths and seek to commune. To be deeply rooted as Colossians 2:6-7 urges , we have to practice the daily and steady discipline of opening our Bibles and praying. Even when you don’t feel like it, pick up your Bible…take that one step and God will meet you. He sees you. Don’t resort to Netflix or TV shows just because you feel out of sync.

May our hearts be revived and our passion reignited. He is the Consuming fire who is able to consume all other passions and yet at the same time ignite a new fire within us.

Stay anchored. Keep His light shining through.