[𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝟸-𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘰𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮]

Picture this for a moment: a lush and ordered garden, where plants and flowers flourish and beauty is cultivated, where bees visit often and leave laden with pollen, where countless feathered friends delight in the fresh water of a stone bird bath, and where humans gaze in wonder as they follow winding paths and pause to rest on shaded benches, bearing witness of the majesty of GOD’s amazing creation.  

Now picture a sad, downward spiral of decay: the same picturesque scene falls into neglect.  With less and less watering, less and less tending, stunning blooms are choked out by strangling vines free to run wild, plants shrivel and die, or grow unchecked into a tangled, overgrown mess, obscuring the once inviting paths and benches.  There is no pollen to attract the bees.  Birds look elsewhere for a peaceful place to linger and water to frolic in.  Ordered beauty drifts into unwelcoming chaos.  A cherished locale becomes a deserted place where something lovely once lived.

Sadly, a similar decline can be spotted in many facets of life:

• a warm friendship, once characterized by camaraderie along life’s journey, filled with heart-to-heart understanding, companionship, and support slowly drifts to lack of contact, and eventually, distant callousness

• a crackling fire, once hot and glowing, providing warmth and light, a place to prepare delicious food and a gathering place to linger over treasured conversation slowly burns out, diminished to cold, grey ash, and becomes an abandoned circle of stones in the middle of nowhere

• a thriving occupation, once fueled with talent and passion, a wholehearted devotion to a unique calling to serve others and achieve well-planned goals dwindles into self-doubt, lack of motivation, flat disinterest, and possibly strong distaste and the temptation to cast those honorable aspirations aside entirely

• a cozy cottage, once beautifully designed, appointed, and lovingly furnished to welcome guests and provide the warmth and safety of home to a family slowly ages; without regular maintenance, cleaning, and refurbishing, the structure falters, moisture grows into mold, dust gathers, walls crumble, and its once happy occupants set their sights on the latest and greatest alternative rather than invest in restoring what holds beauty in its history

• worst of all, a vibrant follower of JESUS, characterized by passion for CHRIST, devotion to the gospel, and hunger to know and delight GOD’s heart, allows fervor for the Savior to fade; instead, a once precious relationship with the LORD falls into neglect and disinterest, where regular lines of communication with Him are cut off, spiritual growth is strangled out while distractions are free to run wild, and a life once thriving in the Father’s care shrivels to a cold existence where something special once grew.

What do each of these scenarios need?  A breath of fresh air, a drenching spring rain, an attentive eye, the spark of new vision, a tender touch of care, a burst of renewed energy – in short, REVIVAL!

“Revival” is defined as an improvement in the condition or strength of something; resurgence, resurrection, restoration. In the Bible, revival means a spiritual reawakening or return to a state of life characterized by a renewed relationship with GOD, a deepening of spiritual vitality, and a widespread outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Revival involves a return to GOD’s ways after spiritual dormancy or neglect, leading to joy, repentance, and a fervent desire for GOD’s presence and power in individuals, communities, and even nations.  (quoted from a simple online search engine)

As we read these words, our hearts respond with a hearty, “yes, please!”  If revival begins when we acknowledge our need for it, what will help us recognize the warning signs that we are slowly drifting in the wrong direction?

As we look around us and inside our own souls, where do we see signs of spiritual dryness, neglect, or distance?  What easily distracts us or causes us to wrestle hard questions that can stop us in our tracks?  What does the need for revival look like on a personal level?

Thankfully, we are not left on our own to find our way back to intimate relationship with the LORD.  We can cry out, askingHim to show us the way:

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? (Psalm 85:6)

The One who formed us, breathed air into our lungs, and drew our hearts to know and trust Him in the first place, is also the One who continually pursues us.  He works tirelessly to reveal to us more of Himself and His present and eternal purposes.  He longs for us to live in the full reality of those ageless truths!

His Word and His Spirit will alert us to danger zones and teach us essential practices that will keep our feet (and our affections) on the right path!

Don’t let your walk with the LORD become a deserted place where something lovely once thrived.  Join us for the next two weeks on vinetobranches.com as we (prayerfully) ignite a fresh desire and cast a Divinely inspired vision for spiritual revival, where His tender care captivates our hearts (again) and transforms our days, fixing our sights on eternity in His presence!