What If Revival Begins With Gratitude?

We talk a lot about revival.

We pray for revival in our churches. We ask God to revive our nation. We look at the condition of the world and cry out, “Lord, something has to change.”

And maybe it does.

But what if revival begins somewhere much closer?

What if revival begins inside us?

What if one of the things keeping us spiritually exhausted isn't simply how bad the world has become, but how much time we spend looking at everything that's wrong?

The Church is doing this wrong.

The nation is going in the wrong direction.

Our neighbors don't believe like they should.

Our families aren't where we want them to be.

People aren't listening.

People aren't attending church.

People aren't living for God.

Before long, we can become so focused on everything that's wrong that we stop seeing everything God is still doing.

What If We Started With “Thank You”?

Scripture tells us:

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)

Notice that Paul doesn't say to give thanks only when everything is going well.

He says in every thing.

That doesn't mean we pretend evil is good. It doesn't mean we ignore problems in the Church or close our eyes to suffering in the world.

It means the problems don't get to determine whether God is worthy of our gratitude.

What if instead of beginning every conversation with what's wrong, we began with:

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You, Lord, for Your grace.

Thank You that Your Church is made up of imperfect people, and yet You continue to work through us.

Thank You that when we make mistakes, Your mercy gives us room to repent, grow, and keep going.

Thank You that despite all of our weaknesses, You are still reaching people.

Thank You that the Gospel is still changing lives.

Thank You that Jesus is still saving people.

Thank You for the Freedom I Have Today

It can be easy to focus so much on what is wrong with our nation that we forget to thank God for the blessings we still have.

Many of us can open our Bibles without hiding.

We can gather together and worship.

We can tell our neighbors about Jesus.

We can post Scripture online.

We can stand publicly and proclaim the name of Christ.

Instead of only asking, “How much longer will we have this freedom?” perhaps we should also be asking:

“What am I doing with the freedom God has given me today?”

Thank You, Lord, that today I can speak Your name.

Thank You that today I can tell someone about Jesus.

Thank You that today I can open my Bible.

Thank You that today I can worship.

And if a day ever comes when following Jesus costs me more than it does today, my hope is still not in my circumstances.

My hope is in Christ.

Paul Praised God From Prison

Paul and Silas understood something about this.

They had been beaten. They were thrown into prison. Their feet were placed in stocks.

If anyone had a reason to focus on what was wrong, they did.

But Acts 16:25 tells us:

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

They praised before the prison doors opened.

Think about that.

Their praise wasn't the result of their circumstances changing.

They praised God while they were still in the middle of the situation.

Then the earthquake came.

Then the doors opened.

Then the jailer encountered God.

Sometimes we want God to change everything around us before we praise Him.

But what if something changes inside us first?

Maybe We Have Become Addicted to What's Wrong

There is certainly a time to confront sin.

There is a time to expose darkness.

There is a time to correct false teaching.

There is a time to mourn what is happening around us.

But if all we can see is darkness, something is wrong.

Because God is still here.

God is still moving.

God is still saving.

God is still restoring.

God is still calling people.

God is still worthy.

We shouldn't become so consumed with diagnosing everything that's wrong with the world that we forget to proclaim what is right about our God.

The world may look dark.

But Jesus is still the light.

The Church may have problems.

But Jesus is still building His Church.

People may reject the Gospel.

But the Gospel is still the power of God unto salvation.

You may be walking through one of the hardest seasons of your life.

But God has not stopped being God.

What If Revival Starts Here?

Maybe revival doesn't begin when the government changes.

Maybe it doesn't begin when the church building fills up.

Maybe it doesn't begin when our neighbors finally agree with us.

Maybe it doesn't even begin when our circumstances improve.

Maybe revival begins when one believer wakes up and says:

“God, thank You.”

Thank You for saving me.

Thank You for forgiving me.

Thank You for staying with me.

Thank You for giving me another day to speak Your name.

Thank You that my hope isn't dependent on what happens around me.

Thank You that even when I don't understand what You're doing, I know who You are.

Instead of saying:

“The world is too far gone.”

What if we started saying:

“God is still here.”

Instead of saying:

“Nobody wants Jesus anymore.”

What if we said:

“Then I'll tell somebody about Him today.”

Instead of waiting for revival to happen somewhere else, maybe we should pray:

“Lord, start with me.”

Change my heart.

Restore my gratitude.

Give me compassion for the lost.

Give me love for Your Church.

Give me courage to speak Your name.

And help me stop staring at everything that's wrong long enough to recognize everything You've already done.

Because maybe revival begins when we stop waiting for the world around us to give us a reason to praise God—

and remember that Jesus already has.

Pastor Scott