The bright colors of autumn on trees in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Fall brings a colorful revival. America needs a spiritual revival.
In the next few weeks and months many of us will see a colorful revival. This colorful revival will not only happen here in the US, but all around the Northern Hemisphere. The northern landscape will experience a transformation as trees burst forth with the colors of red, orange, yellow and purple. I pray my nation will experience a spiritual revival as well.
As a nature photographer I enjoy fall. I enjoy not only the transformation of the colors, but also the crisp, cool air. I look forward to autumn’s arrival ever year. But my heart longs for a deeper transformation, a spiritual transformation to come to America.
The Need for Spiritual Revival
Everywhere we look we see immorality, anger and ungodliness. Clearly, America needs to change. Some look for a political answer, but the answer will not come from politics. This nation needs a heart change and an awakening to things of God. We still need to vote for leaders who will stand for our values, but the ultimate change must be in the hearts of men and women.
Men like Jonathon Edwards help lead a 1700s spiritual revival in America known as the Great Awakening. America can use another Great Awakening today.
In the Mid-1700s, the American Colonies experienced the Great Awakening. God used the teachings of men like Jonathon Edwards, George Whitfield and John Wesley to lead people away from the secular ideas of the European Enlightenment and back to faith in God. Historians believe the Great Awakening shaped American cultural values for centuries. Those cultural values linger to this day, but are fading.
A New Great Awakening
Many people today, including myself, believe that America needs another Great Awakening. The distant decline of our culture does make that seem impossible. But nothing is impossible for God!
God brings revival. People do not. But I believe there are things we can do to touch the heart of God and the hearts of those who need Christ.
1) Pray—God told the nation of Israel if they pray, He would heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). If we want to see God act and the hearts of people changed, prayer is where it begins.
May God lead us down a path to spiritual revival.
2) Confess—God’s word calls us to repentance
(Luke 5:32). I know I am a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips (Isaiah 6:5). For its time for judgment to begin with the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).
3) Read—God calls us to know Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24). The best way to know Him is by reading His Word, the Bible.
4) Give—The Scripture call us to give to the church, give to the poor and give to one another (2 Corinthians 9:7). When the world sees our acts of giving, they will glorify God (Matthew 5:16).
5) Live—God call us to strive for holiness and not worldliness (1 Peter 1:15-16). Too often Christians seek to be like the world when we need to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:16).
I don’t believe these five things are some sort of secret keys to revival. They are just simply godly principles to put into practice. Maybe then God will revive our land. Amen.
Pray and live for spiritual revival.