There is little doubt that our nation is at a crossroads. The key to blessing and positive change has always been to see God work.

However, God works on behalf of his children when they are pleasing in His sight and are obeying His principles as found in the Bible. Right now, the most important thing is for believers to get in a position where God wants to bless His people – or He will let them be overcome with undesirable circumstances.

II Chronicles 7:14 still holds the key to the revival needed. The verse says: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Even though revival comes from God, His people need to be able to receive it. It requires four things: 1. humbling ourselves, 2. praying, 3. seeking Him – not merely going through the motions, and 4. turning from sin.

In the Bible, when people got serious with God, He was ready to do His part and bring revival. A lack of seriousness will fail to do the job. Believers need to be confessing, surrendering to His will, and doing His will. Revival only comes when His people spend considerable time in prayer and Bible reading.

God does not significantly bless those who do not spend much time with Him. Christian, are you willing to do what is required – or are you too busy?

The Apostle Paul was given a unique ministry. It was his job to bring the news of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

Because of his unique testimony, he considered himself to be the chief of sinners, was saved, and then became probably the greatest of the Apostles. He understood the great mercy of God because he knew he was unworthy – perhaps more than most because he was forgiven for his persecution of many believers.

As believers, we are given access to the “unsearchable riches of Christ.” This term in the Greek means that it is beyond our ability to fully understand all that Christ has given us. It has no limit. You can keep on learning, but it is not possible to learn of them all.

It is exciting to learn and make use of these riches. They are all wonderful and a blessing to add to our lives. God did many things for us at the moment of salvation – at least 33 different things. But those things are just the beginning. Many more things belong to every believer from God, but not very many go beyond the spiritual childhood stage and never learn of or use these things.

Growing in grace is truly an adventure. Yes, there will be difficult times with it, but God can give grace to get through anything as long as we trust Him. We also have the promise that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Ph. 4:13). It is amazing to see how God can move on our behalf.

Christian, are you growing in grace and learning of some of those “unsearchable riches”?

God used this Psalmist to want God’s blessing. He asked for three things:

1. “Be merciful unto us.”
2. “Bless us.”
3. Cause your “face to shine upon us.”

All three of them are basically saying the same thing. He recognizes that having God’s blessing is desirable and there is no substitute on earth for it. If God is blessing us, we are rich indeed.

God wants to bless people that please Him. It does not mean a trouble-free life. This is evident in the fact that some of the best of God’s saints suffered. Because we are not yet perfect, we need His mercy for sin, disobedience, indifference, failure, weakness, etc.

Did you notice in these two verses why the Psalmist asked for God’s blessing? He asked for these things because he knew that it is what God wanted. He did not ask for God’s blessing for Himself.

His reason for asking was: “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.” He asked for blessing because he knew that it would lead to God being praised when souls are brought to Him for salvation (“saving health”).

Do you remember that God promised to “heal the land” in II Chronicles 7:14 (the great revival promise) when it would turn to Him in repentance? That promise is still true today.

Christians can be blessed today if they are willing to surrender to Him, be filled with the Spirit, and help get the message of the Gospel out to those around them. Is this why you want God to bless you?

There are many people today that believe God is not in control, or that He is not as powerful as the Bible indicates. To remind us of what He is like and how powerful He is, He invites us to “remember the former things of old.”

Now the only record of what happened in “old” times, which often refers to “ancient” times – before the flood or even at Creation – is found in the Bible. He says to remember them – He created everything that exists and He did it in six days. As we are reminded of this, there should be no doubt about His power.

Twice He says: “I am God.” He also declares “there is none like me.” Some religions think that God and Satan are equal, but opposite. Absolutely not. Although the Wicked One is one of the most powerful beings other than God – he is much less powerful than God. Thank God for that. It is why His grace is sufficient in every trial!

These verses also show that God knows what will happen at all times. There is nothing that catches Him by surprise. He knows both the end of everything and He knows all things that have not happened yet.

Finally, these two verses teach that God has a plan: “my counsel.” He also declares that there is nothing that can stop it – even though He has alloted much time to its fulfillment. The Book of Revelation reveals what is coming soon and the victory He will have in the end (not far away).

God does what He wants. He said: “I will do all my pleasure.” He answers to no one. The Bible teaches us that what He does is always in love – even if we do not understand it now. Remember, He is God, not you.

It also means that if we want His blessing, His plan must be followed. That plan is in the Bible. Are you following it?

The born-again Christian has been given the Word of God to be a Guide for daily living. It is, of course, much more than that. It is also a mirror, a source of strength and comfort, a promise Book, a window to see our Savior and learn from Him, and a way to see what will happen in our world. There is a lot in it and the more you think about what it says and apply it – which is what Bible word “meditation” means – the more blessed you can be.

The best blessings are not physical ones. They include walking in fellowship with Him, enjoying His peace, and knowing that He will provide. Many rich people do not have them and they cannot buy them.

Although the promise of blessing is there, you also need to notice that there are two conditions for it. First, you need to “delight” in it. Do you really “delight” in reading and studying God’s Word? And what about hearing it preached and taught on Sunday in church?

Second, there is the constant meditation on it – “day and night.” This, of course, implies that you are applying it to your life. The best way to do his through the day is to memorize passages of Scripture. Are you doing that?

Many have found the above two conditions to be the key to a joyous life in Christ. Why not start to get in on the blessings and find out how meditation can make a difference.

What a great God we serve! He loves to show those who trust in Him His goodness.

O course, His greatest blessing is forgiveness and salvation from the punishment we deserve. And to top it all off, He has even made us His children and will live with Him forever. Praise His Name!

I am quite sure that most of you that read this title are curious about why I would say that.

I hear requests for revival mentioned a lot in prayer meetings and when prayer requests are called for. It is often tacked on to prayers rather lightly, but I have to wonder how many people are really seeking personal revival?

Yes, it would be a blessing for there to be a real revival in our land. Biblically, there is no reason why it could not happen. God promised we could have it if we fulfill the requirements in II Chronicles 7:14. Certainly we need it. There is no doubt that revival is the only hope for our land.

Why the title? Because I feel that many people saying they want revival want it for the wrong reasons. They want it for others; or they want to see America get back to what it once was; or they want to see souls saved – which are good things we all want – but they are not seriously seeking revival for themselves. God said to seek Him in prayer and to get a right relationship with Him restored.

Here is the bottom line: stop praying for revival if you do not intend to get revived and are not willing to seek it for yourself! If you are not willing to put away sin, get serious about prayer and faithful Bible reading, going to church when the doors are open, and seeking to win the lost – stop kidding yourself! You are not serious about it and God will not give it to you.

God is not fooled. When talking to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, the Lord used the word “repent” seven times. He wants us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. Too many Christians are playing games and living for entertainment and this world. It is why there are many revival meetings but no real revival. Revivals always start with an individual who is right with God and then it can spread from there.

Ask yourself Christian: Do you really want revival for yourself – today?

This verse is still applicable today, even though it was originally written more than 3,000 years ago.

Those who truly love the Lord are glad to be in church when the services are taking place. They do not go because the people there are perfect – they are not. They do not even go there because everyone is happy and has a smile on their face – they do not.

They do not even go because the preacher is a great speaker – that is often not the case. In spite of that, if someone is prayed up and looking for a blessing from the Lord – they often find that He gives it. The Lord also often gives something from His Word in the message that will help people through the week with their coming trials.

The singing is also a blessing. Even though you may have some heavy thoughts when you go in the church doors, you will find that the singing and the words of the song can lift your spirit as you are reminded that He is still on the Throne and knows all about your difficulties.

You will also find some people there that love the Lord. If you love Him, you will find that the fellowship is sweet and you can come away blessed. Someone may even be willing to listen to your concerns and pray with you about them.

With all these good things waiting in the church service, no wonder David and believers today can be happy about going back for more. Surely the Lord provides a shelter from the world’s storm of trouble and temptation, enabling us to go on for Him with joy from day to day – until the next service.

God Bless. Stay in the Word.

Our Shepherd is most Wonderful. All He does toward us and for us is good – whether we understand it at the time or not. In Jeremiah 29:11, He tells us: ” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Not only do believers have the blessing of the Lord here, but also forever. Here we are often confronted with temptations and evil. We are not perfect, but groan for the day when we will be. Here, we see a portion of His goodness; there, we will understand and see the fulness of His goodness and blessing.

Here, sometimes it is hard to see His goodness because it can be clouded by uncertainty, doubt, and trouble. There will not be any of that in glory. It will be eternal joy to be in His presence and all enemies of good gone forever.

Hang on, Christian, it will be worth it all one day soon. He is coming back and His rewards will follow.

One of the greatest blessings a child of God can have is to be able to talk to God in prayer and get answers. Here we are – sinful creatures of an Almighty God – Who created the entire universe – and He allows us to ask Him for various things – even little things (of course, any need of ours is little to Him)!

He has even gone further and promised to give answers when we ask. This ought to amaze any Christian!

It also presents a test of our fellowship with Him. Since He promises answers, when a Christian is not seeing answers, it ought to reveal that something is wrong in their relationship with the Father.

I talk to many people. I often hear people say that they pray every day. Unfortunately, this response is often given as though it excuses them from other Christian duties such as going to church regularly! It does not!

The right kind of praying sees answers. If you pray and are not seeing answers, it is quite possible you are praying wrongly – or your relationship with God needs mending – or both. Instead of letting it go on in that condition, draw closer to God and find out why you are not seeing answers. Start confessing any and all sin and surrender to His will – doing all that God asks – with His help.

Prayer ought to involve a two-way fellowship with God. There ought to be praise, thanksgiving, confession, and asking. There should also be times when you just sit still before Him and let Him talk to you. That is real praying.

Praying to say you pray – without answers – is pointless. Thank God, He is always willing to hear the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man” (James 5:16).