| “Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” – 1 Samuel 7:3 |
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| An excellent guide to personal revival! Over my many years on my spiritual journey, I have heard many messages on the need for revival. As I read the Bible I have found several passages that speak of personal revival. 1 Samuel 7:3 is one of my top go-to verses for learning the actions needed for personal revival. As you consider 1 Samuel 7:3 and personal revival please allow me to present a few thoughts. Personal revival is where one revives, bringing back to life, personal obedience to the Lord! Revival is needed as one has put something or some things in place of God. A person’s first love, their love for God has been replaced with another love. Revival happens as one REALIZES they are wrong and they REPENT. Repentance is making a 180 turn. One RETURNS to their first love. One then takes the step of REMOVING the things that displaced their first love. For there to be real revival I believe there is one more step and the step is to RESOLVE. To resolve is to make a firm RESOLUTION. The resolution includes a RECOMMITMENT that says one will ONLY LOVE and SERVE GOD. When this happens one can expect God to do incredible things through the person and for the person! Are you serving ONLY HIM? Have you given yourself to an idol or some idols that have drawn you away from your first love? Do you need to have a personal revival? Tip – occasionally you need to draw a circle around yourself and say, “Lord, start a revival inside this circle.” That prayer will certainly bring about conviction and God will reveal things that need to be removed. Put into action the steps outlined above. Rededicate yourself to serving ONLY HIM! Verse to DATE the Word on July 3 (7/3 ) is 1 Samuel 7:3. It says, “Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” Getting really personal: When is the last time you inserted yourself into Joshua 24:15 and said “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD?” Continue Strong committed only to serving and loving Jesus. And remember to DATE the Word |