By Abel Ukachi Amadi

Key verse: 2Chronicles 7:14 (KJV): “If my people, which 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 forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Revival is a time for spiritual renewal in the presence of God. The term “Spiritual Renewal” involves the deliberate effort to draw closer to God, shedding old ways and adopting a renewed mindset in alignment with His will. It refers to the process of revitalising one’s spiritual life, often characterised by a renewed commitment to God.

Spiritual renewal is not a one-time event, but an ongoing journey of transformation and growth in the Christian faith. Spiritual renewal is pressing deeper into God and experiencing a renewed intimacy with Him. It is a deeper dependency on God and having a richer relationship with Him. Many Christians are spiritually weary, stagnant, sleepy and stale and it calls for spiritual check-up and renewal. Spiritual renewal is a vital experience for every believer. It is the process of being refreshed, revived and transformed in our relationship with God.

Like our physical body, we need to treat our spiritual bodies with care if not more care than we do to our physical bodies. Just as we renew our physical bodies with food, water, physical exercise, care, high-quality sleep and rest, we also need to engage our spirit being into a continuous process of spiritual transformation. That is what revival is all about. From the beginning, God established the principle of renewal in the natural world as well as the spiritual realm. This principle of renewal is also expressed in the laws God gave to Israel, which dictate that their land be dormant every few years to allow the soil time to replenish its nutrients. Spiritual renewal just like renewal that takes place in the natural world is a period of solitude when you replenish your spiritual energy and strength. It is a time during, which you set yourself apart to be revived spiritually. In Genesis 35:1, God said to Jacob: “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” God was calling Jacob to spiritual renewal.

Revival is a time of cleansing; a time to cleanse the nation and our personal lives of sin. It a time of putting away anything that has taken the place of God in our lives. Jacob said to his household, put away the foreign gods that are among them; purify themselves; change your garments and then let us arise and go to Bethel and make an altar to God (Genesis 35:1-3).

In 2Chronicles Chapter 34, Josiah led the nation of Israel into revival by purging it. He began to purge Judah of idolatry and sin (2 Chronicles 34:3). The Bible had been neglected so badly that it was actually lost (2 Chronicles 34:14-15). The temple worship has been neglected and replaced with worship at the altar of Baal. Josiah began to repair the house of God and took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel. Revival is needed when sin can be indulged in without protest by your conscience. Other reasons for revival include: when prayer ceases to be a vital part of your life; when thoughts about eternal things begin to wane down; when materialism and wealth acquisition becomes dominant in your thinking; when worship becomes a weariness and when you feel spiritually drained and worn out.

• Today’s nugget: Revival is a time for spiritual renewal. Prayer: Lord send us revival. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected]. Rev. Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.