How to Have Personal Revival

Create in me a clean heart, O God (Psalm 51:10, NLT).

World and national revival begins with each one of us, individually.

Someone once stood, drew a chalk circle around his feet, then prayed, "Lord, please send revival, and start inside this circle."

Do you want revival in America? Then in your mind symbolically draw a circle around your feet. Let revival begin inside your circle.

Do you need a jump-start in your spiritual life? Do you sometimes feel spiritually dry? If so, you need personal revival. There is nothing more invigorating that experiencing personal, spiritual refreshing. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (Acts 3:19, NIV).

Here are some suggestions to help bring that revival and refreshing to your heart:

1. Love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:5).

2. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life.

3. Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you. Make restitution where God leads.

4. Examine your motives in every word and deed. Ask the Lord to search and cleanse your heart daily.

5. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your walk against complacency and mediocrity.

6. Praise and give thanks to God continually and in all ways on all days, regardless of your circumstances.

7. Refuse to obey your carnal (worldly) nature (Galatians 5:16,17).

8. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Develop utter dependence on Him with total submission and humility.

9. Study the attributes of God.

10. Hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

11. Appropriate the continual fullness and control of the Holy Spirit by faith on the basis of God's command (Ephesians 5:18) and promise (1 John 5:14,15).

12. Read, study, meditate on, and memorize God's holy, inspired, inerrant Word daily (Colossians 3:16).

13. Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

14. Fast and pray one 24-hour period each week. Prayerfully consider becoming one of the millions of Christians who will fast for forty days for revival and spiritual awakening in America and the world.

15. Seek to share Christ daily as a way of life.

16. Determine to live a holy, godly life of obedience and faith.

17. Start or join a home or church Bible study group that emphasizes revival and a holy life.

(Crosswalk Insights from Bill Bright – August 12, 2008)