Revive

By Kellie Hinsley

Revive: Restore to life or consciousness, give new strength or energy to

“Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do.” - Psalm 1:1-3 NLT

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” - Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

These verses should give us so much hope. We could compare this last year of our lives to a very extended, seemingly dead winter season. It’s in winter that we look around and we don’t see many signs of life—the trees have lost their leaves, nothing seems to be growing, and things look pretty dead. Some of us could say the same for 2020—things around us aren’t showing many signs of life. If we focus on what we can see with our own eyes, on what the media wants us to focus on, or what others want us to see, we might chalk this year up to a loss. 

But if our trust is in the Lord, if He is our hope and confidence (as Jeremiah 17 tells us), we know that God has been working all along. On the surface, we may not see signs of life, but if we are rooted in the Lord, we have access to deep stores of living water. We never have to stop producing fruit. 

I am no farmer, but through a little internet research I discovered that a very cold winter is actually a good thing for many crops. Freezing temperatures can eliminate insects and parasites that could stifle an otherwise abundant harvest. Freezing temperatures also allow for plants to store up energy, holding it in reserve for new growth. 

God wants to revive us, to use the energy that has been stored up during our winter season. Whether we can see it with our eyes or not, God was working in 2020. In order to be revived, we must remain connected to our source of life. We must remain rooted near His riverbank where our roots can grow down deep. This is how we can produce fruit in each season, regardless of the state of the world or what we see happening around us.

Challenge:

Today, as you take time to pray and study, refocus on what God is calling you to do, even when it seems like nothing is happening. God is ready to revive you. Are you ready, rooted and accessing His deep stores of living water? Pray over this time, and write down what God is telling you. Over the next year, circle back and look for the fruit, that you may glorify God and His reviving power!