Revival

One of the Devotional Classics reading is by Charles Spurgeon. In his excerpt from "Spiritual Revival the Want of the Church" he expresses many reasons why he feels the church is in need of a revival. He states that this must be first in ourselves and then secondly in the Church. I enjoyed this entire reading - I'll share a couple different quotes with you that struck me.
"It is God who quickens a soul which was dead, and it is God who maintains the life of that soul; God who nurtures and perfects that life in the Church."
The repeated words 'it is God who...' stuck out to me immediately. Just before this quote he says "If there is anything good or excellent found in his Church, it, too, is entirely God's work from first to last." The paragraph alone made me stop right in my tracks and pray and praise God for every good thing in me and my life. Nothing is from my own effort or someone else and it's a great reminder to be humbled by.
I feel that also seeing this helps me to know that I can't do it on my own, I can't possibly be in control over everything at the same time and have it all turn out smoothly. Anytime I think I can, I try and I fail miserably. So many times I get too hard on myself because I can't do things correctly or good enough on my own. Realizing that no part of my salvation or my good deeds are because of myself brings me to adoration in how great and big our God really is. Too many times I put God in a box and don't think he is big enough to do things in my life and I have to go and try to get it done myself. Re-reading that first quote takes so much pressure off and speaks truth to the fact that God is active - he is alive and at work in every one's lives. HE is the one who calls the person from death and brings them life. HE is the one who maintains the soul in the life of a believer. HE nurtures us and perfects us in ways to be more like him.
If he is the only one who can do it, then why am I trying to turn to other things to be nurtured? Why do I seek out other ways to be filled with life and maintain it? That is the sin in my life. Sin is what tells me I can find other ways and I don't need God to fulfill me. They are all lies that I so easily believe at times. I want a revival in my own heart. I want the work of God in my life to be revived. Spurgeon expresses the idea of groaning for a revival. He tells us that we are to groan and pray like Habakkuk did in Habakkuk 3:2 "Oh Lord, revive your work!" I want to pray this day and night for my life and the Church. It may not always be what I think I want in the moment, but if I truly look at my heart - I know I do.

"O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
in the midst of the years make it known;
in wrath remember mercy." Habakkuk 3:2