Revival is often seen as a corporate experience—something that transforms a church, a community, or even a nation. But at its core, true revival must begin at an individual level, deep within our hearts.

The Heart: A Wellspring of Life

Scripture teaches us that the heart is the wellspring of life. Just as our physical heart is essential for survival, our spiritual heart is central to who we are. It is the seat of our emotions, affections, and desires. What is inside our heart ultimately shapes how we live.

Psalm 119:112 (ESV) says, “I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.” This verse reminds us that the state of our heart is not passive—it requires intentional positioning towards God.

A Call to Spiritual Awakening

Many people go through life physically alive but spiritually dead. The weight of life’s challenges—family struggles, work stress, and personal disappointments—can leave us feeling drained and lifeless. But the good news is that God wants to breathe new life into our weary hearts. He desires to bring restoration and wholeness, but we must participate in the process.

As mentioned in a recent prayer meeting: Participation Precedes Activation.

Revival requires action. The psalmist in Psalm 119 made a deliberate choice: “I incline my heart.” This suggests movement, an intentional shift. If something is inclined, it has been repositioned. Many of us go through life spiritually reclined—settled into routines, stuck in discouragement, or simply coasting. But if we want to experience renewal, we must rise to new spiritual levels.

Setting Our Hearts in the Right Direction

It’s not enough to assume that our heart is automatically aligned with God. Like an air fryer that people love for its set it and forget it feature, we sometimes want our spiritual life to work the same way. But spiritual growth isn’t a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process.

We cannot afford to “set and forget” our hearts. Instead, we must consistently check, recalibrate, and invite God to revive us daily. Throughout life, our hearts will naturally tend to decline to a default position—whether that’s discouragement, bitterness, or complacency.

The Danger of Spiritual Discouragement

Discouragement often strikes when we do the right things but see little progress. We work hard, but nothing seems to change. We support others, but they don’t reciprocate. We pour into relationships, yet still face rejection. Over time, discouragement chips away at our faith, making us focus more on our emotions than on God’s truth.

The enemy loves to fill our hearts with lies, just like unhealthy food clogs our arteries. If we’re not careful, we develop spiritual cholesterol—a buildup of negativity, doubts, and sin that block the flow of God’s life-giving presence.

But Jesus offers something far greater. In Matthew 5:6, He says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” The enemy serves us lies, but God invites us to a feast of truth and righteousness. We must learn to reject the enemy’s cheap, fast-food version of satisfaction and instead sit at the table God has prepared for us.

The Reality of Spiritual Battles

1 Peter 5:8 warns us: “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” The key word here is “like”—the enemy appears powerful, but he is not the true Lion. Only Jesus, the Lion of Judah, has real authority. When we recognize the enemy’s tactics, we can stand firm in God’s truth.

Jesus Sees, Knows, and Loves You

Christian songwriter Twila Paris beautifully captures God’s care for our hearts:

“Every heart that is breaking tonight; Is the heart of a child that He holds in His sight; And oh how He longs to hold in His arms; Every heart that is breaking tonight.”

No matter the pain you carry, Jesus sees you. He knows you. And He longs to revive your heart. The wounds of the past may still feel fresh, but God is in the business of healing broken hearts.

Psalm 147:3 declares, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Our pain is never beyond His reach. As the Great Physician, He is capable of restoring even the most shattered heart.

A Divine Exchange

God offers us a beautiful exchange: we bring Him our pain, and He gives us His healing. We offer Him our weariness, and He fills us with renewed strength. We surrender our deadened hearts, and He revives them with new life.

If you find yourself spiritually drained, take a moment to incline your heart toward Him. Position yourself in His presence, invite His truth into your life, and allow Him to breathe new life into your soul.

Closing Prayer

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.