Revival and prayer.... prayer and revival...Those were the 2 things that filled my dad's heart and ministry all through his life. These are some of his books on the subjects.
Prayer is something I live every day, and so do you. We think prayer, we speak prayer, we pray as we think, our hearts constantly voice our needs, thanks and requests. We keep a running conversation with God through our days.
Revival is a word we don't use as much.
What does it mean, and do we need it?
I'm not the one to write on this subject, but my dad sure was, and through the years I saw his heart and I also can't ignore his vision.
I'm talking about the kind of revival that isn't necessarily scheduled for a week in our local church. I'm talking about the kind of revival that draws the hearts of believers back to their first love, to go deeper with God. I wrote about it here, when my mother became a christian in one of the great Norway revivals, where she was born.
As I look back on dad's life... I see so many things now that I probably missed along the way. He LIVED prayer, and he prayed his whole life for churches to be revived, for christians to experience revival in their own lives. Revival as in renewal, renewal of all that we first were so smitten with when we trusted Jesus way back when, and knew that our lives were never going to be the same.
Dad saw that need, all through his life... the need to stay open, obedient and pure before God. .. I see it now.
So many churches today are good, many even great... good sermons, wonderful worship and music, even lots of mega churches, and then what??
I may be stepping on some toes here, but I seldom see the kind of soul stirring 'fire in the heart' desire for more of God, and I sadly confess, it's been true of me too. I WANT that, but my pursuit of God has been too soft and often irregular.
Revival means a deepening and new insight and nearness of the Lord. A desire for more of Him. A new commitment to obedience no matter what. It's costly.
A couple of quotes from one of dad's books:
Conviction of sin is the hallmark of genuine revival, and the lack of both shows how needy we are...
When christians repent, sinners will repent...
Non- christians will deal with their sins according to the way christians first deal with theirs...
The church must be concerned for the world if the world is to be concerned for the church...
When christians walk in the light they have, sinners will see the light in and through them...
I wish my dad could hear my heart today, and maybe he can... I get it dad.
God has told us ...
"You will search for me and you will find me, when you search with your whole heart"... and
"If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forigive their sins, and will heal their land."
I pray for revival, and I pray that it begins in my own heart.
22 comments:
Hi Sonja, Loved reading your dad's words and of course your hearts cry for revival; I echo them. Lord start here in us and let your love spread like a wildfire.
Hugs to you today; thanks for this powerful post.
Noreen
Yeah!! That is it girl!!! I was shouting AMEN through this whole thing...and YES it begins with me!!! If I want to see Revival it has to start here, in me, in my family, in my house, on my street............Revival is for the Christian and then it pours over to the lost world.
That is why I was so blessed when she said, "did you know that there is a revival there?" We pray it in and we allow God to start with us!
Thanks so much for this post...a word in due season for sure.
I didn't see Nana post, it hadn't shown up yet...notice she said "spread like wildfire"...well isn't that what Texans' have seen in the natural this year...now lets have it in the spiritual.
Thanks Sonja. We all needed that.
Just lovely and all very true. When ever I feel stale and far away from God, it isn't that God moved but that I have let other things take His place. So I must pray for that revival in me because like a flame, I need a fresh breeze to make my flame bright.
I have some of those things you have written today written in my own journals. I am so scared of being the church of Laodicia. You always make my heart sing with your words.
Thanks,
Oh AMEN to every word of this! It is just what we need and it must start individually in every one of our hearts! My son has renamed his church Revive. He has a whole message on how he felt God has been leading towards that for the last couple of years and about revival on his website. It was both inspiring and contagious. I am with Noreen and Janette...may it spread like wildfire!! Thank you for this wonderful post!
What an inspiring and soul stirring post! Very well said and something I needed to be reminded of again. Great writing Sonja, Amen and Amen!
Without revival, I don't know how this country will even be able to continue we are so divided. And, yes, revival begins in each heart first and spreads. May we see a mighty revival begin soon. Are there any ripples anywhere? It seems so odd that the last revival I can remember is the Jesus Movement. Yup, been too long.
Sonja I am praying for revival in my church to breakout. And I know you are aware of who my pastor is. Blessings to you dear one.
We need more of the truth spoken (written). We need more "stepping on the toes". Your father was a wise man!
~Tammy
Yes. That is it. After all is said and done, after all the kicking and crying and doubt, THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE. A revival of faith to gear me up to LOVE without ceasing. Anita
I like how you define revival. I need it in my life as well.
Amen! Such a timely word of wisdom, Sonja. If ever there was a time when revival is needed, it is now.
"It's costly."!! Oh that we'd daily count that cost; the cost of following Christ. I wonder how often I drag Him along the way in which I'm going, like I'm some sort of recalcitrant Dancing With the Stars contestant who chooses to lead rather than follow. I wonder. Following has never been my forte.
If the Lord convicts my heart (and He does), it's that He really, really, really means to love Him alone with my entire body, heart, soul & mind. That's where revival needs to begin; and until it does, I can stop whining about the world.
I'd sure like your Dad, cuz I sure do like his daughter :)
Someone recently sent me a "chain e-mail" with the Chronicles verse, "if my people, etc.". Pray for our nation, was the gist of the message.
I looked at that verse again. It doesn't tell us to pray for our nation (although I'm sure that would be great). It calls us to seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. THEN God will take care of the nation.
Generally, I think our prayers are quite shallow and self-seeking instead of passionate and God-seeking.
Oh! Don't get me going on this!
I SO appreciate your father's quotes and, through them, a call for us (ME) to identify and change our indifference, apathy, and overt sins.
Sonja, my heart is beating just reading this. I spent the past weekend and first part of this week in what was dubbed a revival, and my heart has been grieved throughout the week for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes, my husband and I feel like voices crying out in the wilderness on this topic. I can't tell you how it felt to open this blog this afternoon and read your words.
God used you to confirm my Spirit.
That's all I will say, except THANK YOU for being His voice.
And I think my grandfather and your father would have been very good friends had they known each other here on earth.
Whenever I am challenged by God's Word and through the words of others about God's Word, my heart (like Wesley) is strangely stirred for more of Jesus. Each and every time I make a commitment to seek more. But then, moments crowd in and I quickly forget my promise.
Why is it so hard to live Jesus every moment? Why doesn't remembrance come easier for us? I want (like Brother Lawrence) to practice the presence of God at all times.
Challenged again, Sonja, by you and your father!
peace~elaine
Sonja,
Your Dad truly left you with some godly wisdom. What a blessing!
Blessings to you - Marsha
I have your dad's book very handy on my desk. He should only know that he is impacting many he never got to meet this side of heaven. But the Lord truly knows!
My grandfather was saved in a revival in Norway. Praise God for that time and how he came to America and started a Norwegian church in the heart of Brooklyn; the Bay Ridge area. He met my grandmother there. She also moved to America from Norway.
Revival begins in each one of our hearts. I believe we are in need right now. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the Christians and the world. And that's very sad. May we be the light we were meant to be.
Love you,
Debbie
Dear Sonja,
Both my parents were saved in great revivals before and under the war.
In times of trouble we tend to seek God more whole heartedly than in the "good" times. How sad is that? "I have come that you shall have life, yes, life in overflow," Jesus said.
To me it often seems that when we are not in need, we feel no need for salvation either. I count myself first among those people. I know how God has had to work to get me on bended knees, and that is still the ugly truth.
To seek with my whole heart, every day, all of the day, so that there's not room for sin or even worse; lukewarmness.
I'm far from being there, but I do remember my first love and how good it felt.
And I know; It's all through prayer.
Just reading your father's book makes me feel more alive. I was so happy when I saw the cover of the book was the same in Norwegian as it is in English.
The power of the folded hands.
"my eyes are dry, my faith is old,
my heart is hard, my prayers are cold
. . .
OH, what can be done with an old
heart like mine?" (keith green)
i suspect i will be lamenting all
the way to heaven about my old,
cold, dry heart but thankful all the
while that He continues to forgive
me.
Dear Friend,
I thanking God for you, and your boldness, and obedience to HIm. Amen, Glory to God. :o)
Revival has been at the forefront of my heart and mind. The Lord has used your post to give me an answer to something that has been heavy on my heart.
You wrote; " I may be stepping on some toes here,.."
Well, that is what usually stops us from Stepping Out Of Our Comfort Zone, not wanting others to think that we are implying that we are more on fire for Christ than they are, because The Truth Is We All are on the same journey, it's a battle each day, and we have to encourage one another.
I know If we do not respond to the fire the Lord is putting on our hearts to speak out, than it is quite likely that fire will burn out in our own heart. I know that whenever we talk, or write about Christ it speaks to are own heart, and changes us.
Your in my prayers & thoughts.
God bless you Sonja.
~ Michele
AMEN!! I know that "More-Fire" and MorMor are beaming and proud of their girl!
Preach it, Mom! Love you!
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