1. The unique center of morning revival is Christ
Morning revival is a focused on a Person, not a ritual, ceremony, exercise or devotional book. If we miss this Person, we miss morning revival. Our practice or morning revival should not be agenda oriented. Resist this inclination. In the morning we should do whatever it takes to meet Christ. He should have the first place in everything (Col. 1:18).
2. The highest purpose of morning revival is to satisfy Christ
If you see this you’ll never stop having morning revival. Psalm 110:3 says “Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your warfare, in the splendor of their consecration. Your young men will be to You like the dew from the womb of the dawn… He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore He will lift up His head.” In the morning we willingly offer ourselves to Christ and become a drink to Him for His satisfaction. Our main goal is not to “do” but to “dew.” This happens in the womb of the dawn, which means that as we spend time with the Lord in the morning we are becoming His satisfaction, encouragement, and refreshment.
3. The most outstanding characteristic of morning revival is love
Nothing but love keeps us in a proper relationship with the Lord. Our morning revival really hasn’t begun until we tell the Lord “I love You.” This should be the first thing. Love saves us from religious duty and cold methodology. The first person to meet the Lord on the morning of His resurrection was Mary- a lover! Learn how to “kiss the Son (Psalm 2:12)” and let Him kiss you (Song of Songs 1:2).”
4. The most critical experience in morning revival is life
Although our eternal salvation is unchanging, we need a daily salvation in Christ’s life. The happiest Christian is a freshly saved one. Don’t let your salvation become stale, nostalgic, or formal. The divine life keeps you fresh, living, and active.
5. The most critical exercise in morning revival is our spirit
2 Timothy 1:6-7 says that we should fan our spirit into flame and 2 Timothy 4:22 says that the Lord is with our spirit. He is always burning! We just need to fan Him. The easiest way to fan our spirit into flame is to call on the Lord’s name. No one can say Jesus is Lord except in the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).
6. The necessary ingredient of morning revival is opening
The secret to opening yourself to the Lord is speaking. 2 Corinthians 6:11 connects an opened mouth to an enlarged heart. The way to open to the Lord is to say with sincerity, “Lord I open to You.” Don’t just think about the Lord. Speak to Him! Try singing a song, reading a verse, or thanking Him for something. Speaking is the way to be filled in spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
7. The long term key to our practice is simplicity
2 Corinthians 11:3 says, “I fear lest somehow… your thoughts would be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity toward Christ.” In the morning it’s easy for our thoughts to be anything BUT simple. You may start thinking about the events of the coming day or remember a failure of the day before. Maybe you have a long list of requests to ask of the Lord. Be simple! “One thing have I desired of the Lord that do I seek… to behold the beauty of Jehovah (Psalm 27:4).” Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come. Don’t miss the now Christ!
8. The ultimate goal of morning revival is a living
Practice becomes habit and habit becomes living. The goal of our time with the Lord in the morning is to be supplied with Him to live and magnify Christ the rest of the day (Philippians 1:19-21). How you live at 2 pm is determined by your experience of Christ in the morning. This living is built up day by day, first thing in the morning. We need to see the connection between this practice and God’s economy. It’s not just about you being a little more spiritual but about God gaining His expression.
9. The enabling factor or morning revival is grace
The entire Bible ends with grace. Only grace can enable us to live the Christian life. Grace is Christ experienced and enjoyed by us. No matter how mature in Christ we become, we will ceaselessly depend on the supply of grace. “Not I but the grace” should be a constant reminder and a present reality in us (1 Corinthians 15:10). His grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9).