My account of personal revival: For many years I regarded myself as one of the best Christians around. I was very dedicated to church and God. I was baptized twice - as an infant, and then when I "got saved" at 17 y.o. I will never forget the day at a youth retreat, when the girls were together in a dorm, and we were asked to give the date that we got saved. I didn't want to be the only one without a date. So I prayed the "sinner's prayer" - just as I was instructed. As always, I was eager to do whatever it took to fit in. I remember praying out loud, "Lord Jesus please forgive my sins.", but thinking to myself "I can't think of any sins." After that I was accepted by the group. Everyone was excited that I got saved. I got to join the choir, get baptized and become a member. Oh the bliss of fitting in and belonging!! No more fear of rejection,loneliness...!! I enjoyed the blessings God was sending on the church at that time. For years after that I always went to both church services. I never missed prayer meeting - even sometimes hiring a babysitter so I could go to church. It felt good. I learned a lot. The church folk were nice to me. No matter where we lived, the church people assumed that I was saved. However, all that time I was relying on my works and man's validation. Thankfully God didn't leave me in my dark self-deceived dellusion. About fifteen years ago my life fell apart with health, family, church troubles etc. During that time, the Spirit stirred my heart to pray for revival. Really I had no clue what revival was; I just knew that it was needed. I discovered that God's finger was pointing at me and showing me my own need for revival. That was shocking. I begged God to do whatever it took to make me right with him. Through various painful experiences for several years I discovered my many, many sinful hypocritical ways. I realized that I had INVITED THE CHURCH INTO MY HEART TO BE MY SAVIOR. (unconsciously) That's why the church was so important to me. Church was my idol. (By the way too many pastors love it when their members give their hearts to the church. Those pastors merely reinforce the delusion.) Here is more of my story: "Healed from Chronic Fatigue - Finding God's Rest" http://www.thewayback.net/articles/healed.htm By the way, this testimony was rejected by an organization looking for speakers for ladies groups - because "it doesn't explain how to get saved". I feel like I no longer fit into the pegholes that I once fit into so well. That seems to be one of the many costs of revival. PS Even those who pray zealously for revival may not necessarily accept it when it is happening - because revival is messy. God takes away our polish - and that doesn't look good or feel good - esp to those relying on outer image.
