Upon my heart there has been a heavy burden. Tonight as I talked with some people from our church I began to feel an ache in my soul. An ache that was so uncomfortable it was painful. We talked of judgment within the church. We talked of those who look at the outward appearance and decide if a man is holy or worthy to be in attendance at church. We talked of complacency in the church.

As we talked we tried to seek answers. Is there a way to wake up the church? Is there something we can do to get a hold of these people? Is there something we could say that would be so powerful it would draw everyone to their faces in repentance?

Psalm 63 was discussed. It says, "O GOD, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You. In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.

Because your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:1-8 (NKJV)

As the verse was being read, tears began to form in my eyes. I realized that in my own life, I am not longing for Him. I am not wandering a dry desert longing to have my thirst quenched by Him. I am sitting in my comfortable place, wondering why the church is dead. There is nothing I can say to these people who I am judging for judging others. There is nothing that I can do to awaken the church.

As I prayed, I saw Jesus walking into our church. Then I saw the tears in His eyes, as they did not accept Him. I began to weep as I saw myself in the crowd. Why do we turn our backs on Him? Why do we turn our backs on those who belong to Him? Why do we stand in the crowd pointing our fingers at those who are "not like us"?

My friends, there is something that I can do! There is hope for the church after all. I, my friends hold the key in my hand. As do you! The key to the church waking up is me and you. If I sit back and do nothing what will happen? Nothing will happen. But if I fall on my face before the Almighty God, and I repent of the complacency, and of the judgmental attitude, and of my lack of desire to long after Him, then powerful things will begin to happen.

I have learned a great truth tonight. When I fall on my face before Him, He will lift me up to Him! When my soul longs to see Him, He will show me who He is. When my thirst can only be quenched by Him, He will lead me to the water. When I look at the church and wonder, "why they are dead?" He will show me within myself the answer to my question.

It is painful and often a heavy burden when God shows us, in the depths of our being, what He wants us to change. But what a joy comes to us when we walk humbly where He leads.

"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:7-8 (NKJV)

Prepare your heart for renewal this Christmas. Visit our Advent Calendar for inspiration and a surprise each day.