7 Days of Revival

Scriptures: Psalms 51:1-13, Revelation 2:1-5, 1 John 1:9

British Evangelist, Gipsy Smith, once asked his audience, “Do you really want to see a revival begin?” When the people said yes, Gipsy replied, “Then go back to your home and draw a circle around you on the floor. Then get down on your knees in the middle of the circle and ask God to convert everybody inside that circle. When you do that, and God answers, you are experiencing the start of revival.” 

One of my favorite pastimes is swimming in the waves preparing to crash onto the beach. When you do this, an invisible current will drag you away from where you started. So, if you are not intentional about your surroundings, you may find yourself far from where you wanted to be. 

If we are not careful, our spiritual life can work the same way. The current of culture, when given control, will drift us away from our connection with God. In seasons where we’re not intentional, we can find ourselves in a place we never wanted to be. God is calling out to you today to come back. No matter how long it’s been, how big the mistakes you have made, or how lost you may feel, you can return to God. 

The first step toward this call is to take ownership of your current spiritual condition. Just as it was my responsibility at the beach to get myself out of the waves and back to the shore, when we wander from God it is our responsibility to deal with the consequences on our way back to Him. 

Psalm 51, written by David after his own moral failure, gives us an excellent model for us to follow. David does not blame others for his wrong-doing, but instead, he owns up to his issues while at the same time recognizing his need for God more than ever. 

This is your week of revival. Revival will never happen corporately until it happens individually. Take some time today and return to God. This is called repentance – when we leave the old ways behind and turn towards God’s will and word. 

Prayer: 

God, I admit I have drifted; I choose now to return to you. I turn toward your plan for my life. Forgive me and give me a fresh start. Let this week be monumental in bringing revival to my life. I love you, Jesus, and I am thankful for this fresh start!

Scriptures: Philippians 3:12-14, Isaiah 43:18-19, Lamentations 3:19-26

You’ve made it to day two of our week of revival. Once you have returned to God, now you must make a conscious decision to release the past. The enemy may attempt to drag you backward, but God is calling you forward. Today is the day you give your past a proper burial and press onward to all God has for you. 

A funeral gives people an opportunity to grieve what has been lost. I have had people tell me that when they die, they don’t want a funeral. I always respond with, “Well, that is great that you think that way, but the funeral isn’t for you. You won’t actually be there.” 

A funeral gives family and friends closure. We need closure from our past, as well. 

All of us carry wounds from the past. The divorce of our parents, the abuse we suffered, the job we lost, the friend who betrayed us, and the list goes on. 

What can we do about these scarring events? We mourn them. Then, we give them to God. 

A moment of grief is necessary, but a lifetime of grief is destructive. You can’t move forward if you are always looking backward. Give your past a funeral and move on. When we let go of what was, we position ourselves to take hold of what will be. 

God has an amazing future in store for you. You’ve made the most important decision to surrender your life to Christ. Now, give Him your past. Give Him all your frustrations, disappointments, hurts, losses, frustrations, and failures. Surrender them at the cross. 

As you lay the past to rest, here is my challenge for you: Walk away with expectancy. Scripture tells us, “God is doing a new thing.” We have no clue what the future holds, but we do know that God is in charge and has an incredible plan. 

Prayer: 

God, the wounds of my past are real. I also know your power is real to heal and transform. Today, I make a decision to give my past a funeral and to move on. I will no longer look backward, but desire to look forward in expectation of what you are about to do. Thank you for a fresh start as you revive my heart. Amen.

Scriptures: Acts 2:1-4, Luke 11:9-13, Ephesians 5:15-20

A while back, I achieved one of the highest levels in the loyalty program for a hotel chain. Shortly after reaching this status, I traveled with my family to the Orlando area and spent an evening in a hotel. While checking in, the lady at the front counter asked me if I would like a complimentary upgrade because of my status. I responded with, “Of course!” and then asked her why I had never received an upgrade before. Her response changed my life. She said, “Mr. Burke, the upgrades are always available, but never automatic.” In other words, you must ask for it. 

This is how the power of the Holy Spirit works. There is an upgrade in your spiritual life that is available. Before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples to stay in Jerusalem and to wait for the Holy Spirit. He instructed that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them. This is available for you. We all receive the Holy Spirit at salvation, but that does not mean we’re operating in the power of the Spirit. 

Today’s challenge is for you to ask for fresh empowerment of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us, “The disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” We need this continual filling. Paul tells us, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” 

The world has a way of draining us. We need a daily impartation of the Spirit’s power. We need His power to overcome sin, be a better parent, and serve well. No matter the task you are facing, God’s power is sufficient to bring you victory. Take some time today and ask Him for the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. 

Prayer: 

God, the human talent I may have is not sufficient to fulfill my divine task. I need your power in my life. I pray today you would fill me with your Holy Spirit so I am able to do everything you want to accomplish in my life. I offer myself as a vessel for your will to flow through. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 

Scriptures: Ephesians 4:31-32, Romans 12:14-18, Matthew 5:23-24

Loving Jesus is much easier than loving people. Jesus will never let you down, but people constantly do. 

Revival means mending the pain of relational brokenness. Sin always separates. It separates our relationship with God, but it also separates our relationships with each other. 

Years ago, the mother of one of my youth group students really hurt me. For some reason unknown to me, she lied and gossiped to the point that multiple kids ended up leaving the church. I was angry and stuck in a dark place. I knew I had been wronged and I relived the hurt over and over in my mind. It was only during a time of revival that God dealt with my heart to reconcile that relationship.

Letting go of an offense is not easy, but it is necessary, and it begins in our own hearts. Have we forgiven that person or are we still carrying the burden of their crime against us? Today is the perfect day to let go of the hurt. There are many situations where forgiveness is not deserved, but as Christians, we forgive to the measure that God has forgiven us. 

C.S. Lewis reminds us, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” Because God has not held our past against us, we refuse to hold someone’s past again them. 

Make the choice today to let it go. This does not mean the relationship is always reparable. Certain hurts call for healthy boundaries, but in forgiveness, the burden of anger, dislike, and bitterness towards the person is released. 

In some situations, it is necessary to restore the broken relationship. Maybe there is a loved one you have stopped calling. Call them today. Don’t let the enemy keep the offense in your heart. 

God is in the business of reconciliation. 

Prayer: 

God, I bring my hurt and my pain to you. I am battling unforgiveness, but today I make a decision to let it go. Help me to have a clean heart. I don’t desire to carry offense about what ___{fill in name here}____ did. I forgive that person. Let me be the person who shows Jesus to them in my actions. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Romans 1:16

You’re not saved to sit; you’re saved to be sent. 

It’s important to remember we are on an assignment to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. This is not the calling of a select few, it is the command to all believers. 

A few years ago, while praying, God convicted me of my lack of evangelism. I’m a pastor who shares the gospel every Sunday, but the challenge for me was sharing my faith in everyday life. I made my local gym my mission field. One guy, who happened to be an atheist, got my attention. I made it a point to make sure we were working out in the same classes. I started to get to know him, began asking him tough questions, and intentionally brought God into our conversations. 

After over a year of investment, my friend finally came to church. His life is now being transformed by the gospel. God doesn’t need your ability, but He desires your availability. Our prayer today is that God would highlight friends and family members who are far from Him and that we would say “yes” to being intentional about seeing them come to faith. 

There are some very practical things you can do to reach others. One is simply praying for them. God will start preparing their hearts as soon as you prepare yours. Invite them to your local church. If they live out of town, send them some messages that can build their faith. Share the gospel with them!

The true gospel is: 

1. God loves you and has a plan for your life. 

2. We have all sinned and sin separates us from God. 

3. A sacrifice is needed for our sins, and that is why Jesus came. 

4. We need to put our faith in Christ and by His grace we an be saved. 

It is the Holy Spirit who ultimately changes lives but let us answer His call to go and share the Good news with those around us. 

Prayer: 

God, help me to be a witness in the world around me. I am available to whomever you want me to reach out to: whether that’s coworkers or the people staring back at me across the dinner table. I specifically pray for ___{fill in name here}___ today. I pray they will come to know you. Use me to be a small part of the big thing you want to do in their life. I say “yes” today. Amen.

Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 18:18-20, James 5:13-16

When revival starts within the church, it is bound to impact the local community. Today, we turn our prayers from being intrinsic to being extrinsic. God’s desire is that “none should perish”. 

Our cities are full of people who need the life-transforming power of God. 

Prayer is powerful. Prayer can impact someone in front of you or someone across the globe. The Bible tells us, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” 

When we pray, things happen. 

John Wesley once said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” Let’s take today’s devotional time and turn it into a prayer meeting for your community. Here are some prayers to get you started. 

A Prayer for local churches: God, I know the local church is your strategy for reaching our community. I pray that you would strengthen the churches in my city. Help them see revival. I pray that our churches would be filled with people experiencing the life change that is only available through Christ. 

(Finish this prayer time by naming some of the local churches and praying for them out loud) 

Prayer for local pastors: Lord, we pray for the pastors in our local communities. We pray you would encourage them. Give them divine strategies for best serving their cities. Keep them from sin. We pray specifically for their families. Let their kids have a deep love for you and for your church. Help them to guard their marriage and to live in purity of heart and body. 

(Take a couple of minutes and pray specifically for pastors you know of in the community, including your pastor). 

Prayer for government officials: I pray now for the governmental leaders over our community. We pray their hearts would be turned to pleasing you. First, we pray they would come to know you as their Lord and Savior. We also pray they would seek you for wisdom in leading this community. 

Prayer for evil to be overcome: I pray you would tear down the evil strongholds that hold this community captive in sin. I ask that every wicked scheme; from corruption within businesses, the sex industry, child trafficking, and every other unjust evil, be exposed and destroyed. Let this community be a light for you. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen. 

Scriptures: Luke 17:11-19, Psalms 100:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Gratitude is powerful. Today, we give God praise for what he has accomplished in your life. The key to gratitude is to not wait until everything is perfect to praise God. Every small miracle is a chance to express your thankfulness for what He has done. 

I have five kids. I am working hard to make sure they each grow up with a heart of gratitude, and zero entitlement. 

Entitlement says, “I deserve this.” Gratitude has the posture of, “I am so thankful I get this.” When my kids say, “Thank you,” I want to bless them even more. God is the same way. 

There is a story in the Bible of 10 lepers who are healed by Jesus. Only one comes back to say, “Thank you.” Jesus asks him, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” 

I never want to be like the other nine. 

Scholars tell us these men had received their healing, but it wasn’t complete. However, when the one man came back with gratefulness, Jesus responds, “Your faith has made you well.” He was able to experience the full cleansing power of God – physically and spiritually. The other nine may have missed the entire point and the bigger miracle Jesus offers; grace. 

Don’t get stuck in the frustration of what God has not yet done. Focus on what He has done. Thank God he called you back to Himself. Thank him for the Holy Spirit, who is with you and who has filled you with His power. Thank Him for the healing that has happened in your heart. 

We are told in Psalms to, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving.” When we approach God, we do not start with our needs. We start with our gratitude. Take some time today and write out a gratitude list. Let Him know what you are thankful for. The revival that started this week is just the beginning. 

Prayer: 

God, I am forever thankful for what you have done for me. I take time right now and thank you for the miracles that have happened this week. I know you are just getting started in my life, but before we move on to the future, I thank you for the past. Thank you for how you have protected me, saved me, appointed me, and surrounded me. Let me always live with a spirit of gratitude. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.