The Journey to Personal Revival

"We long for revival! What is needed to attain revival on a personal level?"

by Joshua Devaratnam

Preparing Our Hearts for a Move of God

Just as soil must be tilled before planting, our hearts need to be prepared for revival. A hardened or distracted heart can hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus often spoke about the condition of our hearts, reminding us that revival starts from within.

How do we prepare our hearts?

1️⃣ Humility & Surrender – We must lay down pride, self-reliance, and distractions, allowing God to shape us. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

2️⃣ Repentance & Obedience – When we turn away from sin and respond to God’s promptings, we create room for His presence to dwell. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

3️⃣ Hunger for God – Revival won’t come without a deep longing for more of Him. When we seek Him with all our hearts, He will respond. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

When our hearts are softened, expectant, and surrendered, we become vessels ready for God’s revival fire! 🔥

A Personal Revival

A personal revival refers to a transformative and spiritually rejuvenating experience in an individual's relationship with Jesus Christ.

It involves a deepening of one's faith, a renewed commitment to biblical principles, and a profound encounter with the Holy Spirit.

If you sense that your journey with Jesus has become stagnant or if you have been wondering, How can I experience revival personally?  I would suggest that the first step is to ask the Lord to touch your heart and give you a desire for a personal revival.

When you genuinely want more of the presence of God in your life, God will progressively guide you as you grow. (Psalm 27:4)  However, we have to be intentional about seeking Him.

How do we do this? It is by reading the Word and speaking to Him daily.

Getting on a Bible reading plan can be helpful for personal growth with Christ. I recall my pastor encouraging me to start a Bible reading plan in 2019, which had a significant and transformative effect on my life. The plan I followed was Nicky Gumbel's Bible in One Year. You might want to try it as well.

When there is consistency in the way you pursue God, He will draw nearer to you. As Scripture says, “Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you!” (James 4:8).

Creating an Atmosphere for Revival

Protecting the atmosphere around you is extremely important for a personal revival. When there is a Godly atmosphere, it is easier to experience a personal revival with Jesus.

How do we create this atmosphere?

By allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in making necessary changes.

For example, as you grow in intimacy with God, certain things may no longer resonate with your spirit—such as music, entertainment, or habits that previously felt acceptable. This is God’s way of refining you, drawing you into deeper fellowship with Him.

Obedience to these gentle nudges allows Him to entrust you with greater intimacy.

The Influence of Friendships

The company you keep also has a direct influence on your spiritual walk. Surrounding yourself with friends who draw you closer to Christ is vital. This does not mean abruptly abandoning friendships, but rather seeking God’s wisdom in managing relationships. The Holy Spirit will guide you, sometimes prompting decisions that may seem unpopular in today’s culture—obey Him anyway.

The Cost of Revival

Remember that there is always a price to be paid when God calls you to follow Him! The price is the narrow path that you are called to take. Most of the time, it will not be widely accepted by everyone around you. But the key to a personal revival lies in your obedience to the Holy Spirit and His Word.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming article on the power and what is required to experience revival on a corporate level.

Written by,

Joshua Devaratnam

Team Courage