Revival is coming. I promise. It will come in ever-increasing waves before we see the height of what we are praying for. Those waves of revival will require a lot of us. They are the divine strategy of God to prepare us for the coming days ahead, when He pours out His Spirit like no other hour in history.
Those days are not as far off as we may think. You and I need to get ready for the changes that are coming. I’m not just talking to other IHOPPERS here. I’m talking to my friends in Colorado, California, Texas, Great Brittan, The U.K., Germany and everywhere else. The coming days of revival will touch us all. They have to.
My guess is that 99.9% of you reading this right now are not ready, and deep down you know it.
My Story
Last August 2006 I knew I was in a change of seasons (bloged). I knew that the Lord was shifting things for me, but I had no clue how or when or what. However, what I did know was that I had to commit myself to the Lord to do it well (Daniel 1:8 style). I made a resolve to pursue humility, faithfulness and love. I jotted down my some life goals, and some lifestyle practices to help keep me focused. Knowing that those would keep my heart before the Lord when other things began toppling.
One month later difficult things started happening. Some hard things came up during the recording for The World Can Wait that really pricked my pride. (Read the Post) Then in December it was decided that I should leave Merchant Band…
…This was the biggest change in my life since I moved to Kansas City in 2001 (other than getting married, of course). I didn’t know what to do with myself. (Yet that was the least of my problems.) I could feel the sting of my wounded pride (post) and I hated it. When the lights came on I found things in my heart that I thought had been dealt with long ago.
God was leading me perfectly. He had my heart in His best interest. He was (and still is) working out everything in me that doesn’t align with Him.
Things didn’t make sense to me at the time. And they still haven’t unfolded completely. But the reason I know that I’ve done things pretty well so far is because my heart is alive in God. I feel Him close to me. I am enjoying the Word. I feel the grace to pray.
I’m not saying that I did everything just right, but I do know that if I hadn’t prayed every day for strength to choose the low and meek road and to keep my heart from offense then I would have lost a lot of ground and probably hurt some close friends.
anita hensley said:
excellent prophetic word for the moment. this is a “voice” not an echo.
keep pressing and ‘fighting to stay awake’
bless you!
Posted on February 23, 2007 at 9:14 am
Yuri said:
Shawn, this is heavy, but great. Thank you for posting. It imparts soberness to me, and forward focus (via present focus).
I’m surprised this post has received so few comments … what’s up with that? Interesting.
“Sound the alarm, tell everybody it’s time to wake up.”
Posted on February 23, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Shawn said:
@ Anita: You get bonus points for using my blog title ina sentence.
@ Yuri: Thanks. I’m glad I was able to be an encouragement to you.
You can never judge a post by it’s comments. The screenshot post got a ton of comments and I just threw it up there as a spontaneous thing expecting almost no response… watchagonnado?
Posted on February 23, 2007 at 11:31 pm
antje said:
I’m impressed by your honesty, Shawn. You’re giving a wonderfully encouraging example of dealing with “uncomfortable” heart issues. Praise to God for what He’s doing in your life.
Yes, let’s press on to become ready for revival. That revival is not here already (in the states or over here in europe or wherever…) is not about the world not beeing ready yet, or God not wanting to give it. It’s about us Christians. But I really believe it already started: it started in our hearts to be hungry for it, to cry out for revival, it started that people seek God pushing like never before. The cry for revival IS answered by God in the spiritual, I believe. And now the fact, that people are realizing that they really have to be ready and prepare their hearts for the multitudes, the miracles, signs and wonders, it shows that it’s about to explode down here.
That was my longest comment ever;)
Posted on February 24, 2007 at 6:49 am