On an airplane headed toward a recent conference where I was scheduled to speak on family relationships, my flying companion asked, “What sets the revival message apart from self-help or other counseling methods?”Now, that’s a great question!

 

My answer was this: The revival message is based on the assumption that a person’s vertical relationship with God is the foundation of all their horizontal relationships with others. In other words, starting with God is essential to lasting transformation . . . in all areas of life.

 

Of course, the great temptation is to reverse that fundamental order. In the press to meet human needs, we often skip over our heart alignment to God. The result is that we end up trying to solve our problems on our own, using God and religion as a means to our own agenda.

 

The message of revival is that we radically need God. And yet, drifting from Him is our fleshly bent. In Christ, He has revealed a pathway by which we can return to His heart (Hosea 6:1) and live from His resources. Honesty, humility, brokenness, and repentance are the attitudes that prepare the way for unleashing Christ’s power and presence in every dimension of our lives.

 

Heartcry Journal exists to remind God’s people of the reviving power of Christ. My prayer is that this issue will nourish your understanding of the possibility, power, and process of revival for our day.