Identify the Need to Be Revived

This post’s Scripture passage reference: Psalm 119:153-159.

Do you go through times that, although everything seems to be going good and you can’t pinpoint any specific issues in your life, you just feel “off?” You are a bit anxious or on edge and you don’t know why. I think I have pinpointed in my life that sometimes these periods are times of  intense spiritual battles that I don’t even realize I am participating in. These are times when getting my spirit revived can be so necessary. 

If there are times when you feel sapped, completely drained and you don’t know why, investigate and see what’s going on around you. See if you have been involved a spiritual battle that you didn’t even know about. It could be as simple as what you are allowing into your eye gate. What are you watching on TV? What are you taking into your spirit through social media? Who are you allowing intimate access to your life? The strong spiritual battles that others are facing can bleed over into your spiritual life also. 

I truly believe that the Holy Spirit fights battles for us that we are not aware of. Our spirits are involved, even if we cannot see it happening. That is a reason that we should measure our steps each day. Take stock spiritually to see if we need spiritual renewal and revival. 

Within Psalm 119:153-159 it seems that the psalmist’s spirit had been in a battle. He is asking the Lord to examine his afflictions and deliver him from them, because he was faithful and did not forget His Laws. He seemed to be pleading with the Lord to uphold him and deliver him. He was asking to be revived through what he knew that God‘s word said.

He said that the wicked were so far away from salvation because they have no desire to seek or follow God‘s statutes. He praised God for His tender mercies. Again, he was asking the Lord to revive him, but this time through what he knew to be God‘s equitable judgments.

He had many enemies that were persecuting him, but still he stuck fast to the testimonies of the Lord. He looked with sorrow on and was grieved by those that did not honor and keep God’s Word. He implored the Lord to remember how he loved His precepts. Yet again, he asked the Lord to revive him, and to revive him through His lovingkindness.

This passage itself seemed challenging. I think the main challenge this passage  highlights for modern day, western culture Christ followers would be recognizing that we need to be revived. We are so seeped in a culture of demands from society, human philosophy and daily life pressures that we don’t always persist at a day by day walk with God. Our faith gets weighed down and we fail to see that God will revive us and renew us if we turn to Him and seek revival. This is not just an individual obstacle, it affects the whole corporate Church. 

How can we apply this to our lives? Seeking revival should not be a periodic thing. We should seek each day to be revived by recurring participation in an active relationship with God and to recognize that we are not surrounded by a perfect world.  The statement that David Guzik wrote on this subject really summed it up for me: 

“We are reminded that the psalmist’s life was not lived in an ivory tower or a secluded place where all he did was study the Scriptures all day long. He lived a real life, interacting with people (some of whom became his enemies or opponents). He lived a life that experienced affliction.”

So the application of this passage could be to get up every day and seek God first. Let Him fill us and revive us so we can have influence on the world around us. 

What does this mean to my faith? My faith is strengthened when I realize that God is my ultimate source of revival, and that I can experience revival every day—if I choose to. That is the thing that Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us: “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!” (Christian Standard Bible)

Lord, I pray that the corporate Church will feel the desire to seek revival so powerfully that the whole world will see. I pray for personal revival. Help me to seek it daily. I pray that those that need to see You and seek You would be affected by the changes that revival to Your church will bring. 

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 “153 Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.  155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. 156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.” Psalm 119:153-159 (KJV)

“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? “  Psalm 85:6 (KJV)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.“  James 4:8 (KJV)

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. “  Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

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I feel that since God has given me the gift of this platform, I must always tell you about my Jesus.  

What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe?  Do you know Jesus? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Him?  You can know Him.  Jesus Christ, God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day, will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity.  You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth.  

Here is an excellent website that can give you additional information about making your decision for Jesus Christ!  PeaceWithGod.net

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