Camp Meeting Devotions - Day Two

 Meteorologists from time-to-time forecast approaching storms. It might be an ice storm, severe thunderstorms, hail, tornados and hurricanes. People will sit glued to their televisions or phones to get the latest updates. They do this so they can make preparations. Those preparations might include stocking up on food, taking shelter and in severe weather events like a hurricane, they may have to evacuate. 

I am forecasting an approaching event that also requires preparations. A swelling tide of God's power and intention to move among His people. I am convinced God wants to move mightily among us more than we want Him to do so. He desires a rekindled love for Him, a renewed passion for serving Him, and a revived people for impacting the world. 

This time of preparation is vitally important. Just like atmospheric conditions brood over land and water churning and changing weather patterns, picture the Spirit of God brooding over you, your church, and community ready to bring changes. Some people may be caught unaware because they did not prepare. 

I am deeply impressed and burdened that God is sending revival. The storm warning sirens have sounded in my spirit. I am forecasting His approaching gale force move. Preparations must be made. You might ask, "What sort of preparations?"

Just before Israel went in to possess the promise land, they camped near the Jordan river. They were there for three days. Then Joshua sent his officers through the camp giving instructions to the people to get ready. They were to follow the ark of the covenant across the Jordan. Joshua gave some instructions that are pertinent for us today. 

Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will wonders among you. [Joshua 3:5]

To consecrate yourself means to make yourself clean, to prepare, to dedicate yourself. This requires repentance and taking an honest spiritual assessment of your spiritual condition. When God swoops in mightily, He will demand holiness from His people. It is easy for sin and compromise to creep into our lives. If you really desire God to move deeply in you, consecration is necessary. 

Dedication is also required. A renewed commitment to seek God, to follow and obey Him. This requires surrendering to His leadership. Yielding to His promptings. Selling out to the necessary spiritual preparations to receive all He wants to do. Those will include prayer, fasting, confession of known sins, readjustment of priorities. 

Why consecration and dedication? Because God is planning to do wonders among us. That means He is planning to do great, difficult, marvelous, surpassing, and extraordinary things. When He moves in with His fresh wind blowing and fresh fire blazing, awesome things follow. People fall under conviction and repent. The lost are saved. Worship increases in intensity. The spiritual fervor of the people ignites burning hotter, and they grow bolder in their gospel witness. God accomplishes more in days of revival than has been accomplished in decades of ministry previously. 

Do you believe God is going to do wonders among you? Do you believe that He is going to do wonders in you personally? What you believe will dictate how seriously you prepare. May lack of faith on our parts not hinder God from moving mightily as we grieve and quench His Spirit. Ask and believe for His wonders.

• In what ways will you spiritually prepare for what God desires to do in you?
• Explain what your consecrated life means you need to do?
• List specific ways you can dedicate yourself to all God wants to do.
• Do you really believe God will do the wonders of revival in your life and community? Make a list of what wonders you would like to see God do in you and your church community?

Camp Meeting Devotions - Day One

 This is day one of a long pilgrimage. A time of preparation for times of refreshing with God. On this journey, I challenge you from the outset to consider getting a journal to be used during these devotions. You may use it to prayerfully answer questions over the verses of the day. You may use it to write out your prayers. This time is dedicated to preparing all of us for God encounters. It is a long journey. Many may start but not finish. The challenge is to prepare yourself to meet with God more than you have AT ANY POINT IN YOUR LIFE. You will get out of these times only what you are willing to put into them. So let the journey begin. 

We are embarking on a glorious pursuit. Some would assume that the glorious pursuit is for revival. They would be wrong in those assumptions. Right from the start we need to keep one thing in mind. We are in pursuit of God for revival. Not in pursuit of revival. The pursuit of God must be first and foremost. 

You may think there is no difference. I assure you there is. Many people are in pursuit of revival. They have read about historic revivals where God poured His Spirit out in tremendous fashions. People were brought to repentance. Masses were saved. Those revivals often spread far and wide. People long to experience that. Their pursuit of revival is the pursuit of all the wonders that accompany revival. They want the experience of revival more than they want the God of revival. The pursuit of God is the most glorious pursuit. 

That is our pursuit. The most glorious of all pursuits is the pursuit of God Himself. It should be Him that we relentlessly seek. Him that we hunger and thirst to know better. There is no higher pursuit than knowing God. It saddens me how many Christians have settled for the crumbs on the floor of knowing about Him. They totally miss the feast on the table of knowing Him. 

Right from the beginning, our preparation for Camp Meeting is to pursue Him. To seek Him diligently. To linger long with Him in prayer and devotions. To yearn for Him more than our next meal. To crave Him more than anything this world offers. To relentlessly pursue Him. To follow hard after Him. To chase after Him and all that He desires to do in our lives. 

Many years ago I read a book titled, God Chasers. I loved the book and the title. We should devote ourselves to chasing after God. I am reading a book now titled, The Wild Goose Chase. Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit the "Wild Goose." The whole book is about pursuing God and His Holy Spirit. I challenge you today to chase God and stay on the wild goose chase. There is more of God to be experienced. There is more of Him to know. There is much more of Him to encounter. It is a glorious pursuit and a magnificent adventure. Do you hunger for that? Do you yearn for more of Him?

O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. [Ps 34:8]

Ponder that verse. 

• Describe what tasting the Lord is like. 
• Are you taking the time to savor Him in devotions and your pursuit? 
• Do you rush through devotions to get onto to more important things for the day? 
• List the ways you have personally convince you that He is good. 
• Define what the LORD is good really means. 
• In your personal walk with Him, can you say you are personally finding refuge in Him? If not, list the things you are trying to take refuge in.