God wants to visit and change our world… but He wants our cooperation in the process.

Surely you’ve heard it by now – the spiritual forecast, increasing prophesies and new awareness that God is preparing to visit this planet in a powerful way.

It’s called ‘revival’ and it’s been on the prayer lists of hundreds of millions for many decades. It comes when we believe and take God at his Word when He promised (II Chronicles 7:14) that if  “my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” NIV

True revival seldom begins by looking out the window for potential converts. It begins in the hearts and churches of people who claim to know Him. He first takes out of our lives those things that displease him and pulls us closer to his heart and plans. When our lives no longer look similar to ‘them’ and begin to look like ‘Him’… then, He’s ready to forgive our sins and heal our land(s).

It’s pretty straightforward and it’s nothing to be proud of that we don’t get on with it.

Revival would be the best thing that’s ever happened to any of us. In the presence of Jehovah, burdens fall off, fear is replaced by great faith, the impossible is happening all around us, people we love have now fallen in love with our Lord. And that doesn’t count the signs and wonders being done by the Holy Spirit!

When God sent Jonah to Nineveh to proclaim his potential judgment, Jonah was afraid that the people of that wicked city would indeed repent and God would spare them. So he took passage on a ship going west instead of traveling east toward Nineveh. After three days and nights in a large fish, he regains his sense of duty and walks the streets of Nineveh warning of God’s impending judgment.

He was prophesying something he didn’t want to happen! But the city repented and God took the judgment out of their future.

And Jonah was angry!

Let’s not also be angry that God is coming to redeem and save people we don’t like. It’s true that where there is sin God must punish; but where there is repentance, God must forgive. God wants us to quit labeling people as enemies and antagonists and begin seeing them as precious people who have been loved by Jesus all the way to his cross.

Stop looking just for judgment. Start praying for a massive response to that love that saved you.