Journey to Easter – 40-Day Creative Lent Devotional – Day 7: What Is True Revival?

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revival

 

Day 7: What Is True Revival?

Opening Prayer

opening prayer

God of sovereign grace, our hearts long to experience the wonders of Your revival power. We know that apart from Your Spirit moving in our midst, there can be no real and lasting change. Forgive us for times when we have pursued empty substitutes or relied on human effort alone. Purify our desires so that above all else we hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. Make us willing to let go of lifeless traditions and anything lacking Your life-giving touch. Come breathe fresh wind into our dry bones, O God. Sweep through us with conviction of sin and unquenchable love for Christ. Ignite heavenly fire in our souls so that many around us may behold Your glory. Revive Your church from the inside out by reviving each of us. We pray in the name of Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. Amen.

Scripture Reading and Reflection

true revival

 

Psalm 85:6 KJV

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Reflection:

This simple cry from the psalmist expresses a profound longing – a longing that every faithful follower of Christ can identify with. “Will You not revive us again?” Revival is not something we can manufacture or achieve in our own strength. True spiritual awakening only comes as an act of God’s mercy and grace. As much as we pursue Him in prayer and community, revival is ultimately a sovereign work of His Holy Spirit. When He revives His people, He renews our passion and joy in knowing Him. Dry bones are clothed once more with flesh. Lukewarmness gives way to fervor as our love for Christ is strengthened. The barren places of our hearts begin to bloom again as He breathes fresh life. Revival changes us from the inside out as we are transformed more into the likeness of Christ. This psalm reminds us that lasting change comes not by human striving alone, but by humbly pleading for Him to act. As we pray “Revive us again”, we acknowledge our constant need for His quickening power. Only He can take dry places and make them overflow with the living water of His presence. Our role is simply to long for Him with all our hearts. May this cry become our own today, trusting that with revival also comes the rejoicing of His people.

Hymn:

Revive Us Again

1 We praise thee, O God, for the Son of thy love, for Jesus who died, and is now gone above.

Refrain: Hallelujah! Thine the glory, hallelujah! Amen! Hallelujah! Thine the glory, revive us again.

2 We praise thee, O God, for thy Spirit of light who has shown us our Savior and scattered our night. [Refrain]

3 We praise thee, O God, for the joy thou hast giv’n to thy saints in communion, these foretastes of heav’n. [Refrain]

4 Revive us again, fill each heart with thy love. May each soul be rekindled with fire from above. [Refrain]

Lyrics: William Paton Mackay, Music: John J. Husband

Creative Activities: 1. Scripture Writing

scripture writing   Write out Psalm 85:6 in your best handwriting on the Scripture writing page which you can download below. Please download the Scripture Writing Page below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only. Commercial use not allowed.

Download Scripture Writing Page

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Creative Activities: 2. Bible Journaling

bible journaling

Turn to Psalm 85:6 in your Bible. Allow the verse to speak to your heart as you: Underline words or phrases that stand out to you about revival. Consider illustrating images that represent God breathing new life into dry places. Rewrite key lines from the passage next to your pictures, dedicating them to honoring God’s work in your life. Decorate with symbols of renewal like fresh blooms or waves to picture relying on God’s quickening power. Take time reflecting on what it means personally to experience revival. Ask God to show you any ways your passion has grown cold. Seek guidance for specific steps you can take this week to deepen your love and dependence on Him. Let this Scripture stir hunger in your soul to continually experience God reviving your spirit. As you meditate through creative study, pray the Spirit would sustain within you a soft, receptive heart toward the Giver of true and lasting life.

Creative Activities: 3. Doodling

doodling

  Doodle or draw symbolic images related to renewal through God’s Spirit. Some ideas:
  • Dry bones gaining flesh and breath, coming alive by the Lord’s power.
  • Wilted flowers blooming anew as raindrops revive the soil.
  • An empty vessel being refilled with living water overflowing.
  • The dawn rising to scatter dark night, heralding God’s light.
As you doodle, reflect on what it means to experience revival. See what images emerge showing your need for God to act. Find renewed passion in longing for Him to revive your first love. Walk securely knowing perfect joy comes from trusting completely in God’s ability and promise to bring restoration.

Please download the Doodle Printable below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only.

Commercial use not allowed.

Download Doodle Printable

doodling day 7DOWNLOAD NOW

Creative Activities: 4. Journaling

journaling

 

Reflect and Journal:

  • In what areas of your spiritual life do you sense dryness or complacency coming in? What are you longing to experience revival or renewal in? Write a prayer from your heart asking God to breathe new life into these places.
Please download the Journal Printable below. It is for personal and educational use (school, homeschooling) as well as for use at church and in ministry only. Commercial use not allowed.

Download Journal Printable

journaling day 7DOWNLOAD NOW

Applying and Taking Action

applying and taking action

  How can you actively seek God’s revival this week? Consider practicing one or more of the following:
  • Set aside daily prayer time specifically focused on pleading for spiritual renewal and revival.
  • Fast from certain activities/foods and devote that time to seeking God through Scripture reading and worship.
  • Simplify your schedule to make room for unstructured times of being with the Lord.
  • Ask close Christian friends/family to pray revival over your life and hold you accountable.
Choose one application and ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to consistently walk in it this week. Expect that as you obediently long for God, He will draw near and make your faith more vibrant through His presence. Why not start immediately reviving your passion by spending time prayerfully reflecting on all He longs to accomplish within you?

Closing Prayer

closing prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the way Your Word stirs our hearts and minds towards You. As we have reflected on the theme of revival, fill us afresh with longing for Your life-changing power. By Your Spirit, root out anything in us that quenches Your indwelling fire, and blow strong winds of awakened love in its place. We commit, Lord, to actively seeking Your face this week through prayer, fasting, and time alone with You. Help us walk in obedient dependence as You revive our spirits from the inside out. May our lives overflow with Christ’s light, joy, and passion for lost souls to be saved. Now unto You who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your power that is at work within us – to You be all glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

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