The Stirrings of Revival
There are so many illustrations of what it means to revive something. We speak about a fire dying down to embers and then being revived by strong wind and fuel. A plant can wither and look sick, but when it is cared for it will revive to a lush, healthy state. A paramedic can arrive on scene with a patient having no vital signs of life. But by stimulating the heart and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the patient can be brought back from the brink of death. They are revived. These are physical illustrations of what it means to be spiritually revived. Revival starts with a stirring in the heart. It begins with a dissatisfaction with things as they are. It grows into a deep thirst and longing for something new. But we also have to take steps towards revival so that we move beyond these stirrings and into a season of revival.