Experience Personal Revival

When people hear the word “revival,” they often think of a city filled with crowds, large gatherings, or a nation shaken by God’s power. That is true, but it is not the first step. Revival does not begin in a stadium. Biblical Revival begins in a single heart. Before we can see revival in our families, churches, or nations, it must start personally—with you and me returning to the Lord with all our hearts. If the fire does not burn in the individual, it cannot spread to the community.

In this article, we will summarize what is revival, and primarily discuss how to have personal revival, but we will also mention corporate revival.

One of the best and quickest ways to experience personal, family and corporate revival is to participate on the 21 Days of Consecration with a group of believers. To go deeper into the theme of revival, read more here.

What Revival Is Not

• Revival is not a series of meetings, conferences, or concerts, etc.

• Revival is not mere emotion. Tears, excitement, or feelings of passion may accompany it, but revival is far deeper than a passing mood.

• Revival is not first for the world outside. Many think revival is about sinners repenting in great numbers, but the first work of revival is always in the people of God. It is when His Church wakes up.

• Revival is not something we can manufacture. It is not a product of better music, better preaching, or better programs.

• Revival is not when miracles, healings, or signs and wonders manifest.

Definition of Biblical Revival

Revivals vary greatly in their scope, nature, and impact—from the reviving of a single heart to awakening entire nations. However, we want to define biblically what we believe true revival is, as there are many opinions and beliefs on the subject.

Traditionally, much of the church has defined revival, awakening, or moves of God in many ways (e.g., an increase in new converts, miracles, church growth, etc.). We believe that much of what the church has called revival would be more accurately described as the fruit of a group of believers who have been revived.

While the word “revival” itself is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the concept is vividly present. God speaks and manifests this concept throughout the Old and New Testaments, using words like “revive,” “awake,” “return,” “restore,” and “arise.” in scriptures such as Psalm 85, Psalm 80, and Isaiah 60.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)

These truths are rooted throughout the Bible and primarily concern the love, relationship and obedience of God’s people with Him.

Revival: More Than an Event or Power, It’s a PERSON

Above all, revival is a Person—Christ Himself. It is the revelation of Christ and manifestation of His presence by the Father through the Holy Spirit. The Father will not do or give anything apart from His Son. Christ is the only way to have anything, including revival (John 14:6) .

Historically, when the church or a person has strayed—becoming apostate, forsaking its first love, becoming works-driven, sinful, religious, doctrinally errant, self-centered, prosperity-focused, and aligned with the world—the Father responds by revealing Christ anew. Consider the early church, soon after the death and resurrection of Christ. As these issues began to surface, the Father inspired the apostle John to write the Book of John, re-revealing Christ to the church.

New Testament Revival

The heartbeat of revival is the Father through the Holy Spirit, revealing His Son and restoring us to the simplicity and centrality of Christ! The fruit of this will be a dramatic increase in presence, love, intimacy, obedience, and holiness. Revival is also a return to normal Christianity—to what the New Testament calls every believer to live. In the book of Acts, the Church walked in simplicity, devotion, holiness, love, and power. Revival is not something extraordinary, but simply the restoration of what God always intended to be ordinary.

It is when Jesus becomes our first love again (Revelation 2:4). It is when our hearts burn with fresh passion for His presence, His Word, and His mission on earth. Revival restores joy where there was dryness, hope where there was discouragement, and love where there was coldness. It is not about religion, but about relationship—a return to walking closely with our Father.

How God Releases Revival

We believe that we can never put God in a box. He can release revival when, where, and how He wants. But He does have patterns, always fulfills His Word, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He has chosen not to do anything on earth without a partnership with His people. Someone must stand in the gap, intercede, cry out, and obey Him.

We are not saying that we believe we can manufacture revival or manipulate God. However, the Bible makes it very clear that if we repent, obey, and do what God requires, He will fulfill what He has promised in His Word!

For example, in the Old Testament, only God could release the fire upon the altar, even though it was His will and timing to do it. He would not send the fire until the priests and prophets put what He required on the altar. Once God released the fire, the priests were also responsible for tending that fire and not letting it go out. Could it be that we are waiting on God for revival, but He is actually waiting on us to repent and to do our part? Could it be that it was never His intention for revival to end, but ended because we didn’t steward what He had released?

The purpose of Revival

The primary purpose of revival is to return to the first love, centrality, and simplicity of Christ —true Christianity! Acknowledging that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. The Father will not do, give, or release anything apart from His Son. When we make the Kingdom and Christianity about doctrine, principles, traditions, works, or events apart from Christ, it becomes religion, because it comes from our own strength, which Jesus opposes. This leads to a form of godliness produced by the flesh that denies the power, which is why Paul said:

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Christ and the cross are the power of the gospel

When we declare our need for revival, we acknowledge that we are asleep and spiritually dead, that we need to be awakened and arise, to live and manifest the Word of God and the Father’s original intention for His family and the Bride of Christ. Revival is for Christians first. Once the body of Christ is revived, we move into transformational revival, mass conversions. The Kingdom of God manifests and transforms every part of society through us.

"So, how do I experience personal revival?"

The Call of Jesus in Revelation 3

In Revelation 2:4–5, Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus with words that also reach us today: “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” These words remind us that revival is not only about nations—it begins personally, in the secret place of the heart.

Jesus calls us to:

1. Remember – “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 46:9)

2. Repent – “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

3. Return to the first works – “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Revival does not start with crowds; it begins with one person—you. Jesus said to return to the first works (Revelation 2:5).

Think: what did you do when you were burning for Him? Did you pray more? Did you spend hours in the Word? Did you share Jesus more boldly with others? Revival is simply doing again those first works—but this time with deeper love and understanding.

And maybe you never had that “first love” experience. That’s okay—today is the best time to start. God is ready to ignite something brand new in you.

Practical Steps to Experience Personal Revival

1. Repent Quickly and Sincerely

Do not let sin linger. Confess and turn back immediately. Repentance keeps the heart tender and open to God.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“Be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)

Revival always starts with REPENTANCE! Repentance is not the same as confessing a sin and asking for forgiveness; but it includes this. However, true repentance is when we turn from sin to God! We have godly sorrow and choose by the grace of God to never commit the same sin again.

We need to repent for all known sin and ask the Lord to show us the hidden ones. For example: unforgiveness, disobeying what He has told us to do in His Word, and personally. One of the most common sins that most believers do not recognize is the sin of loving and being friends with the world. When we do this, we can’t feel His love and presence. We become enemies of God, and now He opposes us until we repent.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15–17)

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

Test - Do you love the world?

Do you spend more of your free time, extra money, and thoughts on the world than you do on Him and His Kingdom… Example: Do you spend more time on your phone, computer, or television for entertainment than you do with Jesus? When you have extra money, do you give it to the orphans and poor, or do you buy something from the world that’s not a necessity? What do you think and dream about throughout the day— Jesus, His Word and the Kingdom, or the things of the world? If you do any of this, then you love and are friends with the world and need to repent!

2. Recognize How Poor You Are

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:3–4)

To be poor in spirit is to recognize our true condition—that we are not rich but actually poor. We do this by looking at what God promises is ours because of the finished work of the cross, and that we are not manifesting ourselves.

We also look at the relationship with God and the way God used other men and women in the Bible, other people in history, other people in our sphere, and around the world. We then compare our lives to all of these people.

Once we do this, we will actually see how poor we are in comparison because God is no respecter of persons, and everything that’s in His Word is for us. Once we see how poor we really are, this will cause us to mourn for more of Him. The way He will comfort us is by giving and manifesting what we are mourning over.

3. Fasting the World and Having Hunger for God

Fast everything from the world that is giving you pleasure (social media, movies, unnecessary shopping, video games, etc.), even if it’s not considered a sin.

Just like with physical hunger, if we are constantly eating junk food, we will not be hungry for that which is good for us. When we fast from the pleasures of the world, our hunger for God will increase, and then we will taste and see that He is good. Our appetite will then change, and we will no longer desire the things of the world more than Him.

Pray honestly: “Lord, I want You and Your will for my life more than anything else.” God always responds to a hungry heart.”

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)

4. Eating His Word Daily

The Bible is not just instructions or doctrine; it is God’s voice. It’s the person of Christ. Read slowly, meditate throughout the day, obey what you read, and let it transform your life.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

5. Pray

Prayer is a conversation, fellowship with your Father. Do not complicate it—speak to Him as a child speaks to a loving parent.

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

6. Worship from the Heart

Sing, give thanks, and adore Him—not only in the service, but every day. Revival is sustained when we live in worship.

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Prayer for Personal Revival:

“Lord Jesus, I remember when I first loved You. Forgive me for growing cold. I repent and turn back to You with all my heart. Restore to me the joy of Your presence. Help me walk in Your Word, prayer, and worship. Let my life be a flame of love for You. Amen.”

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Signs of Revival - How can you know you are walking in revival?

Love for Jesus and the Father grows

He becomes your greatest pleasure and treasure. He truly becomes the one thing that we desire and want more than anything else. We will spend much more time in intimacy alone with Him. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25)

His presence increases, and there is a new joy.

In His presence is fullness of joy. When love grows, the fruit of that will be obedience. He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

The Word becomes alive for you

You read the Bible with new understanding, joy, and actually begin to encounter Jesus as you do. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)

Prayer becomes natural

You desire to talk with God throughout the day. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)

Holiness becomes attractive

You want to live pure and please Him. “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15)

Love for people deepens

You forgive easily, ask for forgiveness quickly, serve with joy, and share Jesus boldly. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

Whenever you see His presence or any part of your walk with the Lord diminish, you are becoming lukewarm. Don’t stay there! Remember (what you had), Repent, and Return!

Revival does not make life perfect, but suffering, trials, and testing no longer affect us the same way. It gives power, joy, peace, and renewed intimacy with God in the middle of every situation.

Don’t ever be content with what you have! There is no end to what we can have in God! His will is that you go from glory to glory now and for all eternity.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)