Morning Moments

Crushed but not condemned.

Isaiah 57:15 (KJV)
15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

How desperate are we for God? The Psalmist said, "I am a worm and no man." That is desperation! Paul cried out "Oh wretched man that I am..." That is desperation! This is the man or woman, boy or girl that God says He will revive. Have you cried out to God in desperation?

Let me suggest a list of things involved in the process of true spiritual revival, and then ask yourself if you really want it in your life. I'm not talking about some emotional tear jerking church service where someone has played on your emotions. I am talking about a real spiritual experience between you and God that is personal but will have a public response.

I. The Crushing to Temper Us.
A. We are Clay: Our Substance is exposed
B. We are Children: Our Father is exalted
II. The Confession to make us Transparent
A. We are Hurting: We will not Deny it.
B. We are Helpless: He will not Desert us.
III. The Cleansing to Transform us.
A. Our Attitudes Change
B. Our Action Challenge
IV. The Conditioning to Train us.
A. We are being Developed
B. We are becoming Devoted
V. The Communion to Tender us.
A. Meek and lowly
B. Miraculously Loving
VI. The Conformity to Treasure us.
A. It is His Doing.
B. We are His Disciples.
VII. The Celebration to declare out Triumph.
A. We have Conquered
B. We will be Crowned

As Christians we are either alive though we are dead, or dead though we are alive. In other words, we are either identifying ourselves with the family of God through faith in the face of fear and failure or we are indicting ourselves through fear, fault finding, and faithlessness.

Pleasure only comes through pain; patience only comes through problems, and conquering only come through conflict.

In the movie "Rocky" he was beaten until it appeared there was no hope for a comeback. Then, at that place - the place of apparent desperation, there came the phoenix out of the ashes. Somehow his strength was renewed when his opponent was so confident there would be no change of Rocky's recovery.

That is how it is with the Christian becomes so desperate that he cries, "Not my wife, but Thine."

BLESSINGS!