"The Key to Revival and Intimacy with God"
by Jill Austin
Master Potter Ministries
http://www.masterpotter.com
[email protected]

Revival Starts with You

2 Chronicles 16:9 - "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."

Revival is not born out of mass movements, but out of a series of solitary decisions.

Over the last several years, I have traveled to more churches and nations than I can count. Many have gathered together and called others to pray, fast, and walk in unity. First, the meetings are packed by the mounting momentum of trying out the latest, greatest new idea. Then, slowly, the meetings dwindle down; one or two intercessors are the sole watchmen left on the wall. The faithful few glumly look around at the empty rows of chairs.

We get discouraged when we don't see others manifesting the same enthusiasm for revival that we have. We worry, "How can our city be transformed unless the pastor of that major church is involved and all the meetings are filled?" But I tell you, beloved, God is not focused on the empty chairs!

Rather, He is focused on the chairs that are filled.

You are there.

And He has drawn you there. He is going to begin His work with you. Revival starts today. Revival starts with you.

Intimacy is What Ignites Revolution

He has hand-chosen you, before the foundations of the world, to embark on a journey into the fullness of your destiny. Do you want to be His voice rather than man's echo?

If so, will you return to Him as your first love? Remember, God must first set our hearts ablaze with radical passion for Jesus. Intimacy is what ignites revolution.

Is the presence of the living God fully taking up residence in your heart? If that has not happened, then why are you expecting that to happen in some kind of public meeting? Revival starts with you! Personal transformation must precede city transformation. Let a revolution begin today - and may it begin with you!

Prayer: Oh Lord, I ask that You would radically revolutionize my life from the inside out. Cause revival to burn so deeply in my heart that others can't help but be changed. Oh Lord, You are truly all I want! Tenderize my heart again so I desire to return to You as my first love. Where my heart has drifted and gotten lukewarm, return me back to You. God, I give you permission to do whatever it takes to make me wholly Yours. Set my heart on fire! Set my spirit ablaze today.


Prayer - A Key to Intimacy with God

Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call unto Me and I will answer You and show You great and mighty things."

Sincere and passionate prayer is the key to unlock our relationship with Almighty God. Many struggle with praying because they feel that their intercession is not much more than empty cries to an invisible God who seems so far off or distant. We think that our prayers shoot only as high as the ceiling and then bounce back unheard and unanswered. But beloved, God loves communing with You! He promises that He will hear us and answer!

In fact, communing with God is the highest purpose for which you were created! "This is eternal life to know Me." (John 17) Our hunger for God Himself is what fuels our prayer life. When His presence is our passion and our hunger is for His heart, we can approach the throne of God boldly with the confidence that our Daddy loves our prayers, but having this first love is so important. As John Bunyan said, "In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart."

A key to prayer is listening: Remember, God has more to say to you than you have to say to Him! James 4:8 promises, "Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you." Drawing near to Him, free from distractions, with a heart to first worship and commune with Him is where we must begin. He holds the answers to all your questions before they are even on your lips. Listen for His voice!

The Power of Prayer

Another key in unlocking the resources of heaven with our intercession is to pray with the Bible! Like Jacob did in Genesis 32, we can remind God about what He said! God's Word does not return unto Him void, and if we remind God of His promises, we can have confidence that whatever we ask, according to His will, is heard and answered.

A final point of caution is that the ultimate goal in prayer is not to have our prayers answered, but to encounter God Himself. Fellowship and intimacy are not based upon the hours you spend in prayer. Rather, intimacy is the time you spend with God. Prayer cannot just be storming the gates of heaven with a list of requests as an empty exercise of words. Rather, our prayers must be desperate cries for encounter from our heart to His heart! Having the audience of God is not something to take lightly! It is an incredible honor to rest in the knowledge that the omnipotent, ever-powerful God of the universe has one joy above all else �?and that is to spend time with YOU!

Prayer: Oh Lord, I want to have a passion for Your presence. Dig deep into my inner soul and help me to not fear the setting apart with you. Oh, how I ache to know you more! Teach me to pray the prayers that stir Your heart. I want to minister to you with my prayers. I want my heart to bless your heart and give you the love that You deserve!