Are you mentally drained? Do you find yourself regularly saying the words, it’s just too
much? Overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, fatigued and emotionally drained are
just a few of the words that describe how I’d been feeling lately. Drama was
coming from every direction leaving no time to recoup from each incident to the
next. Getting out of the bed and plastering a smile on my face was challenging
to say the least.
At one point, I started to believe that the enemy had just
moved in my spare bedroom and truthfully I was too worn out to even care. When
I became nonchalant and could barely whisper a prayer let alone utter the
words, “Devil get thee behind me,” I knew from experience that major depression
was just around the corner and that it was only a matter of time before the
enemy would be shouting the words, she’s
all mine now. As a result, I grabbed that half of mustard seed that I was
holding on to and made some drastic changes which included setting aside time
to engage in a personal revival.
According to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth
Edition, some definitions for revive and revival include the following:
Revive – 1. to restore to consciousness or life. 2. to
restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state: bring back.
3. To renew in the mind or
memory.
Revival – 1. an act or instance of reviving; the state of being revived; as a renewed
attention to or interest in something.
When I talk about entering into a personal revival, it means that it’s time for me to spend more
quality time in fellowship with God. While on my personal revival I do the
following:
- Spend
longer time in prayer and meditation with God.
- Read
Psalms 51 to ask for repentance for anything that I might have done that
is not pleasing in God’s eyes. Then throughout the day read Psalms 23, 25,
34, 42, 43, 91 and 121 to soothe my soul.
- Give
myself permission to cry, because after all, shedding tears is cleansing
to the soul.
- Make a
commitment to fast at least one to three days.
- Spend
less time talking to friends and family about the drama that is going on.
- Focus
on the positive and not the negative that is going on in my life.
- Read
an inspirational book.
- Write
in my journal.
- Take
long and relaxing baths.
- Listen
to some gospel music and have a good ol’ fellowship time with God.
- Make
it a priority to get eight hours of sleep, which is needed for me to
function properly.
Although I’ve recently had my share
of difficulties, I’ve learned that it’s during these times that I need to steal away and have my own personal revival so that my spirit can
be fed and mind refreshed. While having
a personal revival, God clearly
reminds me of the second part of scripture Psalm 30:5 (KJV)…weeping may endure for a night, but joy
cometh in the morning, in spite of what the enemy
wants to always whisper in my ears. God also reinforces for me just how important it is to put on the whole armour of God and that the battles are not mine in
the first place and; therefore, I must let go
and let God.
When things seem overwhelming, I must simply remind myself
that it’s time for a personal revival and
that no matter what obstacles come my way, to lift up my head and keep pressing
forward even when I simply want to throw in the towel. Overall, having a personal revival allows me to be renewed spiritually, emotionally
and mentally, which in turn allows me to listen to God’s voice and His
direction for my life rather than staying sidetracked with issues.
Do yourself a favor and engage in your own personal
revival. It will be worth it!
© Carla J. Curtis 2008
