by: Joe Grande
Have you ever attended a meeting where God gave a wonderful revival? I’m not just talking about another meeting, but one of the best you have ever had. I think of the Scripture in Proverbs 22:29, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Our most important business is that of our life. A revival reminds us of that.
The Bible says we are His workmanship. We are God’s work! It should be our daily business to be about the business of allowing God to help us build up our lives for HIM! The way God uses a revival to do that is by bringing us to a place of decision, and hopefully we respond by making that decision to do what God wants us to do.
Making a decision is the easy part. It is the keeping of that decision after the revival is over that is the challenge. That is where we must be diligent in our business. Note the words, “…he shall stand…he shall not stand” in Proverbs 22:29. The Christian who will continue to stand for Christ is the one who makes a decision for the Lord and then purposes through diligence to keep that decision.
Someone has said: When someone kneels at the altar to make a decision for Christ, the Devil follows you down and kneels behind you, painting a target on your back. How true that is. I have listed a practical guide that I read and wrote down years ago on how to help you keep your decisions. I have added my input to them.
1. Expect resistance – The mountaintop is always worth the climb.
2. Schedule decisions – Add some basic schedule into your life. If you decided to have daily devotions, try using the principle of, “No Bible, No Breakfast.” Set up a time and place, and do it! Follow through on your decisions!
3. Clean house – Get rid of anything and everything that poses a threat to following God with all your heart.
4. Use the philosophy of replacement – This is best illustrated with music. If you decided to get rid of ungodly music, you MUST replace this with godly music. You simply can’t just stop listening to music altogether, or you will once again fall back into old habits. This can be applied to many areas of our life.
5. Don’t miss church on Sunday – While this applies wholeheartedly to the Sunday after a revival, it ought to be a principle which we strive to live by every week as Christians.
6. Tell a leader so you can be accountable – For example, a young person should tell his/her parents first and foremost! They know you better than anyone. Trust them. Obey them. Love them, Tell them! If as an adult your decision is something you feel comfortable with sharing, you could tell your pastor or a spiritual friend.
7. Realize you only have to keep your decision today – Little by little, inch by inch, life is a cinch. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
8. Don’t be overwhelmed – Trust in God! That’s the key to the whole thing. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
If you follow this guide it will help you to continue to build yourself up in the Lord.
Pastor Joe Grande
Faith Baptist Church
Bakersfield, CA