For years, many of us have prayed for revival, not only in this area, but in this nation, and around the world. There have been great revivals throughout history. But the magnitude of the revival we need to turn our nation back to God still has us on our knees in prayer. What is the price of revival? What does it cost? I don’t mean the price of the venue for an event, advertising, planning, finding the right speaker, or even the spiritual battles involved. The cost of revival is much more personal. Revival begins with you and me. Over the last couple of years as my husband has been recovering from a multi-faceted illness, an attempted knock-out punch by the enemy, God has been transforming our lives. He has been opening my eyes to greater truth about who He is and our calling as followers of Jesus. One day as I was sitting with my husband in the hospital, the Lord spoke to me about revival. God reminded me that personally I had been praying for revival for years, and He pointed out, so had my church family. Revival does not overtake us like an ocean wave, it doesn’t pour down upon us like a rainstorm. We cannot run here or there to “catch up” to the revival. Revival wells up inside of us! Revival is like those “springs of living water” that Jesus talked about in John 7:38, “Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!” (The Passion Translation) That sounds like revival to me – new life bursting forth from within us. Then the Lord asked me this question, “Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to pay the cost of revival in your own life?” With tears streaming down my face, I knew He was asking me if I was willing to walk through the refining fire with Him. Was I willing to surrender all – my hopes and dreams, family, friends, business, possessions – everything for the sake of the gospel? Was I willing to lay my Isaac on the altar just like Abraham was asked to do, so that God could do His transforming work in me? Was I willing to pay the price so that the revival I longed to see could begin in me? God is a gentle Father. He will not force His love upon you. His arms are always open wide to receive us, but we must take the first step toward Him. When God asked me, I replied, “Yes, Lord. I am willing. I know the price is high, but if Jesus was willing to die on the cross for me, how can I do anything less than give my life to You?” My heart hungers and thirsts for His righteousness. My heart longs for others to say “yes” to the revival in our day that we desperately need, many so desperately want. However, it will not happen if we watch from the bleachers. We must step into the arena. Not to fight, but to be willing to be used where God would have us stand for truth, and love others just as He loves them. Our own lives have been forever changed through this health journey, and we have seen God’s hand through it all. The miracles, the divine appointments, the lives that have been touched because of His love, light, and power at work in us; this was part of God’s design. This is our path to revival. Many years ago during an all-night prayer session at our church, God gave me a vision. It was a large map of the United States. There were Christians “on the move” from the West Coast and the East Coast, the North and the South, toward the center of the country. And as they moved forward, people were being saved, lives changed, the light was overcoming the darkness. This is the picture of the awakening that is coming. The coming revival has been foretold by many prophetic voices, but more than that, we know God’s heart through the Bible from the beginning of time, in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have everlasting life.” God’s heart is that none should perish. As we look back through history at the great revivals that have changed the world, we see God’s faithfulness. He makes a way, even when there seems to be no way. While the darkness seems to be getting darker, God’s love and hope shine brighter. Lord God Almighty does His greatest work in what looks like impossible situations. This is God’s question to you, “Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to offer your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), totally committed to God, and let the next revival begin in you?” If you are willing, God will show you the way. May the spirit of revival spring up in you today.