Revival of the heart

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word “revival” as a “period of renewed religious interest.” Our English word revival comes from a French word that means “to return to consciousness of life.” Simply put, it means to have new life or live again. In the culture and context of the 21st century, the term “spiritual awakening” describes what was thought of as a genuine revival 50 to 75 years ago.

Students of church history know that from time to time, God sees fit to send revival to His people, often through the efforts of a few who have laid themselves before God and pled with Him to bring about spiritual awakening.

At the beginning of the last century such a phenomenon took place in Wales. It began in a small prayer meeting when Florrie Evans, a teenager, stood and said, “Oh, I do love Jesus with all my heart.” And then she broke down in tears, her heart deeply touched. Others were moved, and began to pray and confess wrongdoing. A revival that deeply touched the country had begun. In another instance, in the 1930s, revival came to Norway through the prayers of a church janitor who, one day, soberly announced to his pastor, “This year there will be revival in this church.”

A spiritual awakening also took place in the Philippines in the early 1960s. Chuck Holsinger spoke during a campus chapel period, saying, “The love of God, I cannot understand it.” A spirit of supplication and prayer seized the students at FEBIAS College of Bible. This then turned into an all-day prayer meeting and continued for days afterward.

May revival likewise begin in your heart as you earnestly seek Jesus in prayer and declare your love for Him to everyone around you. That’s how revival almost always begins.

Used with permission from Guidelines Philippines, Inc. To learn more about Guidelines and the ministry, please write to Box 4000, 1280 Makati City, Philippines or e-mail address [email protected]. You may also visit our website at www.guidelines.org.