(This is an excerpt from my journal on April 22, 2010)
I want to give you some strategies for maintaining revival and sustaining growth. Hosea 6:3 says for you to “press” to know me. Son, this “pressing” is almost passive. My children must be ready at all times and in all places to grow inwardly quiet, to set aside times to simply sit and wait, to listen, to wait on me and receive direction. The mere act of “waiting” and “growing still and quiet” is a part of the act of “pressing” to know me. This simple act of listening and being sensitive to me will create an internal fire of pursuit. You will begin to taste and see that I am good as you crave me and hunger for me. The struggle comes when overcoming the fallen mind’s desire to be louder than my voice. The mind must be renewed by the Word. My Word will silence the fallen mind’s distractions and noise. It will take time, but keep in mind, it took time and years for your mind to become noisy concerning the cares of life. It will take time to develop a mind that is easy to quiet before me, but through the daily study of the Word, it will happen.
When you go into prayer, be cautious that you don’t religiously jump into praying. Grow quiet first. Listen for my direction. There will be some days where I just want you to sit and listen to me. There will be some days where I want both of us to be quiet and enjoy each other’s presence. There will be some days where I will completely inundate your times with Me with the study of the Word. There will be some days when I want you to intercede for others, some days when I want you to pray in the Spirit continually, and some days when I want you to simply worship. Most days I will want you to experience elements of all these things, but in order to sustain personal and thus corporate revival and growth, listening to Me is completely the priority. I will tell you what you need to do in your times of devotion.
My priority for you is for you to know me. Never lose sight of the fact that I have created you for myself; I have created you for my own plans and my own purposes.