ReNEW Me: The ABCs of Personal Revival (By Dan Barfell)

Can we be honest for a moment? I mean, really honest? There have been periods in my life where my spiritual life – my walk with Jesus – felt worn out, distant, tired, and empty. Truthfully, there have been times where I have been ready to quit. You ever felt that way? I’m guessing if you’re anything like me, red-blooded human, you have. There comes a time when what we really need is nothing short of a personal, spiritual renewal from the Lord Himself!
I have come to really like that word ‘renew’. It means to re-establish as in a relationship. It means to give fresh life or strength to. It means to replace something that is broken or worn out.
 
Recently, we’ve been hearing a lot about “ReNEW PHBC”. In an effort to bring renewal, to see a revitalization and a re-focus to our church, we believe the Lord has given us a new vision statement and a new strategic plan. While I agree wholeheartedly and am 100% behind the changes that will be necessary to help PHBC experience a revival, the real cry of my heart is, “God, before You ever renew PHBC, You’ve got to renew me!” Revival, renewal, call it what you want, but it never starts in a church, it always starts in one person’s heart. I want that heart to be mine.
I want that heart to be yours.
God, if You’re ever to renew PHBC, You’ve got to renew me!
But how does revival happen? I don’t profess to know exactly how God takes a heart that is broken, worn out, tired and desperate and breathes new life into it to the point where it is on fire for Him once again, but I believe this: You and I are four decisions away from a revival. Let me share with you the first decision I made.
 
I had to acknowledge I wasn’t where I wanted to be. Mark 9 tells the story of Jesus driving a demon out of a small boy. The boy’s father says to Jesus, “Help my unbelief!” (v. 24) He was admitting to Jesus that he had faith, but not enough. He was saying he wasn’t where he wanted to be.
 
Are you where you want to be in your walk with the Lord? Or does bitterness, unforgiveness, lust, or a host of other desires of the flesh rule your heart and desires? Renewal begins with acknowledging we are not where we want to be. There are other decisions we will need to make. They will each be exponentially more difficult. But the payoff will be worth it.
 
God, if You’re ever to ReNEW PHBC, You’ve got to renew me!