“But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.” (1John:1:9).
I reflected yesterday on my trip Monday to Wilmore, Ky to join in the awakening/revival that God has begun at Asbury University. The revival began at the weekly Wednesday noon prayer service on the campus for its students. During my time there throughout the day they had times of testimonies where those attending could come up to the mics up front and share how the encountered God while at the revival.
A male student named Josh came up to the mic to share his testimony. He said he was at the Wednesday prayer service that started the revival. He said the speakers message in the service that day was on repentance. The speaker emphasized our need to repentance and forgiveness to allow God to work in our lives. The speaker said to take a moment and reflect on if there is anyone you need to forgive. Josh shared as he lowered his head and closed his eyes another student at the campus came to his mind. Josh is a sophomore student. He said during his first week of student orientation they had some outdoor games. Josh said he is not very athletic and this student pointed him out, made comments, and laughed at him in front of others. Josh said for two years he has been carrying anger and hate towards that student. Josh said when he looked up and opened his eyes, that student was sitting right in front of him two rows up. He got up and went to the student and shared with him his hate and anger and asked him to forgive him. The other student asked for forgiveness from Josh. They embraced and went to the altar and started praying together.
The time for the noon prayer was over, and students were supposed to return to class however they did notl eave, but remained in Hughes Auditorium. Students at the gathering briefly left and went to their classes they were supposed to attend next and asked Their professors permission to miss class and return to pray. The professors said absolutely if God is calling you to remain. Other students in these classes hearing this, were convicted and left their classrooms and went to Hughes. These students also openly confessed and repented. They left and found the person they needed to forgive and came back with them to pray. The spirit of repentance, forgiveness and turning back to God moved on the campus. More students were drawn in and the Holy Spirit anointed their honest repentance, fell on their gathering, and the revival began.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)
People are asking me to carry the revival I experienced and bring it to their community. People aare crying out for and an awakening and revival in their churches and communities. If you want to personally experience an awakening; if you earnestly desire for your church and community to enter into and experience awakening and revival, you must first earnestly and honestly enter into deep repentance, individually and publicly as a community, and humbly return to Him. Our pride is the lock on our hearts and churches that keeps them closed and shuts out an awakening to the presence of God.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)
My family, Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance. I pray today you will read it out loud. I pray you will gather others together to read it out loud and then publicly repent, release, return and cry out to God, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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