It can happen so slowly it’s imperceptible at first. Hitting snooze here. Overscheduling there. Skipping church here and there. These “little” decisions, while sometimes necessary, if left unchecked, can eat up our time and harden our hearts. Before we know it, we can’t remember the last time we desired to be in the Word or prayer. We might overhear a friend’s impassioned prayer and wonder if we ever had that kind of faith. In the quietness of our hearts, we wonder, how did I become so cold and indifferent?
Icebergs are constantly changing, but we rarely see them move. Rivers of water are flowing under the surface, constantly changing in response to gravity and temperature. But the massive berg’s daily movements are small, only shifting centimeters at a time. If we could see a time-lapse video of both of our lives and the iceberg, we’d see how we got here. The discipline and devotion we once nurtured and protected slowly eroded in the name of busyness, sin, or hardship. The result is that we feel broken off and spiritually adrift. Maybe, like the psalmist, we cry out, “My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to your word” (Psalm 119:25). How can we find spiritual revival and refreshment for our souls?
All great revivals of historical and personal significance are kindled by an overwhelming awareness of sin, a desire for repentance, and a turning to God’s Word. How can you awaken your soul? Start by going to his Word. It’s there that you’ll find light and life that will melt your cold heart. Here are some verses to get you started.
20 Bible Verses For Revival and Spiritual Awakening
- Acts 3:19-20 (ESV)
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus. - Isaiah 55:7 (ESV)
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. - Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. - Ezekiel 37:2-6 (ESV)
And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” - Jeremiah 24:7 (ESV)
I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. - Ezekiel 18:32 (ESV)
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.” - Psalm 80:18-19 (ESV)
Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved! - Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. - Hosea 6:2 (ESV)
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. - Lamentations 5:21 (ESV)
Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old. - Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV)
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”. - Joel 2:25-26 (ESV)
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter. - Romans 13:11 (ESV)
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. - John 11:25 (ESV)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. - Psalms 22:27 (ESV)
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. - James 4:8 (ESV)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - Psalm 119:25 (ESV)
My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to your word. - Luke 15:24 (ESV)
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. - Colossians 2:13 (ESV)
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses. - 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (ESV)
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
The Tip of the Iceberg
Most of an iceberg’s mass is hidden underwater–out of sight. We, too, can hide, or at least selectively reveal, the parts of our lives we want others to see. But nothing is hidden from God’s eyes (Heb 4:13). He sees and knows it all and desires to melt our cold hearts and revive us with streams of living water. Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’” (John 7:38).
How can you experience revival and spiritual awakening? Break up the frozen ground of your heart by praying, repenting of sin, reading his Word, and responding in worship. Where spiritual rivers flow, there’s life. He came to give you life to the fullest, and this life, right here and now, is just the tip of the iceberg. The best is yet to come.
Cara
P.S. Do you need help reviving the spiritual practice of being in God’s Word? It doesn’t have to be a checkbox on your daily agenda…it can be a life-giving source of rest and leisure. I like to call it holy leisure. Consider grabbing this free resource to guide you.
