TO BEHOLD WONDROUS THINGS (Psalm 119:18)

Have you ever read a scripture once and had it resonated deeply with you, only to struggle to understand it at another time? At face value, God's Word may seem like historical stories, instructions, or tales. We keep hearing that God has given us his manual for us to stand out, if a manual is given to a person who is unable to fathom the truth in it, the purpose of that manual will not be achieved. But when we sit with these words, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate them, we can behold wondrous truths and realities.

As the Psalmist declared in Psalm 119:18, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." We can experience the light and life of God's Word, revealing new insights and understanding.

Recently, I listened to a minister describe the death of Jesus, highlighting the battered and shattered nature of His body during the beating. The minister emphasized how Jesus' face was intentionally disfigured, losing its form and shape. Reflecting on this, I realized that Jesus' face was marred for my sake. This truth awakened a new reality within me.

I prayed these words, and today the Holy Spirit whispered them back to me. As intellectuals, we may have a deep understanding of scripture, but we can ask God to open our eyes to behold wondrous things from His Word. We get to meditate on the life of a great king and his kingdom, and his intention is to make his reality our reality. 

Dear partner in this revival journey, can you desire today that Gods word will come alive within you? Not just achieve your reading plan for the month but also hunger for the truth that this word can bring out. That's exactly what God wants to do with his words in our lives. 

As we study scripture, let's ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the life and light within the words. May we walk in the reality of God's kingdom, seeing His Word as more than just instructions – but as a living, breathing guide for our lives.

Stay Revived!

HAVE YOU MET JESUS?

Have you met Jesus? Not the Jesus preached in your church, but Jesus Christ, our Savior, as revealed in the Bible. While listening to a message by a renowned minister, I felt a deep call, a sense that the Lord is inviting us to a personal, private encounter.

In this moment, Jesus is calling us beyond general knowledge to a profound understanding of who He is. He's not just a granter of wishes but a transformer of lives. He wants to give us His heart's desire, His call for our lives.

While we often gather as a community to hear from God, there are moments when we experience Jesus in a deeply personal way. In those moments, we move beyond calling Him "Jesus" to "my Jesus." We own that experience, and nothing can take it away.

Have you truly met Jesus? Not for material blessings or superficial benefits, but to behold Him as Paul did, to call Him "My Lord" with conviction, knowing He's alive and real.

Can we desire Jesus to become real and personal to us? Can we take the step to ask Him to reveal Himself to us? Then, when we speak of Jesus, we can speak from the depth of our personal experience: "My Jesus."

As the psalmist cried, "One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple." (Psalm 27:4, NIV)

Allow my Jesus to love you. 

Stay Revived!

By Guest Writer.

Opposition Breeds Strength

One of the games I’ve come to truly enjoy watching is tug-of-war. During our employee team bonding events, I always look forward to the game. Not that I participate—if I were on your team, I’d probably be more of a liability! Dragging that rope and withstanding the tension isn’t my idea of fun. However, I love watching the energy and effort people put into it and observing how the opposing team responds.

In many ways, life can feel like a tug of war. We often face resistance, challenges, and opposition that try to hinder our progress or block our path to new opportunities.

It’s easy to question why God doesn’t prevent these obstacles or even wonder if He’s truly present in those moments. But we often forget that one of the fruits of the Spirit is longsuffering, which means there will be times in our lives when we’re called to endure, to wait, and to trust—even when it’s difficult. God's Word speaks to this in James 1:2-4:

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

It’s during these moments of opposition that our faith grows stronger, and we become steadfast in the Lord. I recall a time when someone asked me for advice about an opposition she was facing, and my response was, “In this part of town, we tarry—yes, we tarry in the Lord until we get answers.” So, take it to God.

There’s an important lesson here: opposition doesn’t come to defeat us or make us feel overlooked. In fact, God allows opposition for a reason. Even when we don’t fully understand the purpose, there is always meaning in the struggle. It’s through facing challenges that we develop resilience, deepen our faith, and grow into the individuals we are meant to become—lacking nothing.

So, the next time you find yourself amid opposition, remember it’s not there to break you—it’s there to build you. Embrace the process, trust in the journey, and know that strength often comes through resistance.

Stay Revived!

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Decision-Making

The uncertainty we often feel when faced with decisions reminds us that we were not created to navigate life alone. We often encounter situations where we must make choices, but because we are not the author and finisher of our lives, we cannot see the outcome. So, what do we do in these moments?

There is a place where the Holy Spirit helps us in our decision-making process. The Holy Spirit is our Helper—not just when we need a miracle, but also in the everyday decisions we face. As children of God, we must learn to bring our thoughts, our decisions, and everything we intend to do to the Holy Spirit, seeking His counsel in every decision we intend to make.

John 16:13 (KJV) states:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

The Holy Spirit desires to be included in our daily lives. He wants us to hear His opinion on every matter. When He speaks, He doesn’t force His will upon us; He gives us the freedom to make the final choice. As our Helper, the Holy Spirit provides peace during our times of aloneness, and He is the light in our darkest moments. We must bring our plans to Him in prayer, seeking His guidance.

We must pray until the noise in our minds and spirits is quieted, bringing us to a place of peace where we can agree with Him on a concrete decision. When we consistently seek the Holy Spirit’s opinion in our daily lives, He begins to influence our thinking and thought processes, guiding us to think in alignment with His will. However, we must remain vigilant, not allowing the enemy to interfere with this process.

Sometimes, we may feel unsure about when the Holy Spirit is speaking. The issue is not that we cannot recognize His voice, but that we have not yet become familiar with it. The Holy Spirit is eager to hear us ask Him questions. I remember a time when I wanted to make a decision about letting someone into my life, and I asked the Holy Spirit about it, but I didn’t wait long enough for an answer. Later, I went back to Him about the same matter, saying, “I thought You meant I should…” The Holy Spirt replied, “I didn’t say that. You did.” I laughed because, often, the Holy Spirit speaks in the language of our thoughts.

Holy Spirit, on this day, we ask for understanding, that we may truly live and comprehend the essence of our existence. Teach us to love You, and may we gain the guidance and wisdom to live as You have called us to live. Amen.

Stay revived!