Spiritual Revival

2 Kings 20:5 Go back and speak to Hezekiah. He is the ruler of my people. Tell him, ‘The Lord, the God of King David, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. And I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to my temple.

Psalm 85:6 Won’t you give us new life again? Then we’ll be joyful because of what you have done.

Isaiah 57:15 For this is what the high and exalted One says—He who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Ephesians 4:31, 32 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

 We need a spiritual healing,
 Come, oh Lord, I pray;
 Our spiritual hearts are bleeding
 From the hurts that came our way.
 
 “I have heard your prayers,
 And I have seen your tears,”
 The Lord our God proclaimed,
 And we let go of our fears.
 
 Revive us, Lord, we need You so
 That we may rejoice anew;
 Revive the spirit of the lowly
 And the heart of the contrite, too.
 
 Melt away the bitterness,
 The anger and sadness, too;
 Replace it with a compassionate love
 Towards others as we have for You.
 
 We go forth now with mended hearts
 Strengthened by Your Word;
 In the present, we move forward
 Working in one accord. 

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? I’m not opposed to them, but even with the best intentions, they’re not always easy to keep. Lofty goals that sound good on paper are hard to maintain in real life. We want to change, but old habits die hard. Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising regularly, writing that novel, getting out of debt, learning a new language, or ________________, unless our heart is truly in it, we probably won’t get much past January.

It’s the same with our souls. We’ve had a lot to process over the past year. Many of the events have caused sadness, anger, bitterness, frustration, and resentment. It’s time to step back and take a breath. It’s time for healing. It’s time for a spiritual revival.

What is weighing heavy on your heart? Ephesians 4:31 tells us to get rid of the things that weigh us down. Give them over to God. He hears our prayers and sees our tears and wants to heal you. (2 Kings 20:5) Unburdening our lives from these feelings won’t happen over night. Like any change, it will require desire and determination. But oh, what joy our hearts will feel as the burden gets lighter! (Psalm 85:6)

Ask God to restore your joy from a grieving heart. Commit to being kind when you’d rather lash out in anger. Learn to be compassionate to someone you don’t understand. Forgive those who have hurt you instead of hanging on to bitterness and resentment.

None of this comes naturally. Only through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit can we move forward. Expect roadblocks, pitfalls, detours, and setbacks. Any journey towards betterment will have its ups and downs. But we have the best cheerleader encouraging us to press on! Stay on target by hemming yourself in through prayer, meditating on scripture, and calling out to God in “those moments.” Surround yourself with people who will lift you up in prayer and give you encouragement. It’s time for healing. It’s time for a spiritual revival!

Lord, I pray for a spiritual revival in my heart. Renew in me compassion, kindness, love, and peace. Uphold me in my moments of weakness, and strengthen me to press on. Take me out of the lowly places in my heart, and fill me with all hope and joy! Amen