The Whistle of the Shepherd: Drawing Near in Times of Revival

There's something powerful happening in the spiritual atmosphere right now. Like rain clouds gathering before a storm, the presence of God is intensifying, calling His people to draw closer. The question isn't whether revival is coming—it's whether we're positioning ourselves to receive it.

The Source of Our Strength
We live in an age of confusion about where true power originates. Some credit their peace to crystals or sage. Others attribute breakthrough to therapy alone or self-help formulas. But Scripture is unambiguous: "From him comes the cornerstone. From him, the tent peg. From him, the battle bow" (Zechariah 10:4).
Every good thing in our lives flows from one source—Jesus Christ. The restoration you're experiencing didn't come from burning incense or reading horoscopes. It came from the covenant-keeping God who sees you, knows you, and loves you. When we credit anything else for what God has done, we're essentially stealing glory from the One who deserves it all.
This isn't about legalism or religious performance. It's about acknowledging truth. If you're experiencing answered prayer, if your family is being restored, if you're walking in newfound freedom—that's Jesus. Give Him the credit He deserves.

The Rain That Prepares Us
"Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain" (Zechariah 10:1). This isn't just meteorological advice; it's a spiritual principle. The latter rain comes at the end of a season, a final deluge before the dry summer months arrive. It's God's way of filling up our reservoirs before we face the heat.
Are you asking God for His rain? Are you positioning yourself under the downpour of His presence? This is the season to store up spiritual provision—not for yourself alone, but for those who will come to you when the drought hits the world around us.
Like Joseph storing grain during years of plenty, God is calling His people to wisdom. Build storehouses. Fill the reservoirs. The rain is falling now, but summer is coming. Those who store up the presence and power of God today will have provision to share when others are desperate tomorrow.

The Power of Consistency
Strength doesn't come overnight. You don't walk into a gym and immediately lift the heaviest weight. Strength builds through consistency—showing up day after day, week after week, month after month. The same principle applies spiritually.
"I will strengthen the house of Judah," God declares (Zechariah 10:6). That strengthening happens through consistent devotion. Daily time in God's Word. Regular prayer. Persistent worship. Faithful fellowship. These aren't religious obligations; they're the training regimen of spiritual warriors.
If you want to be strong in the Lord, be consistent with the Lord. If you want strength in your home, be consistent in your home. If you want spiritual power, be consistent in spiritual disciplines. There are no shortcuts to maturity.

Goodbye, Babylon
Throughout Scripture, Babylon represents the world system opposed to God—a culture of pride, idolatry, and self-sufficiency. And God's message to His people is clear: judgment is coming for Babylon. Not in some distant, theoretical future, but "in a moment, in one day" (Isaiah 47:9).
This should give us tremendous hope. The systems and spirits that have held God's people in bondage won't last forever. In fact, they won't last much longer. God is preparing to deal decisively with everything that has led His children astray.
But here's the personal application: What Babylon influence are you still tolerating in your life? What compromise have you made with the world system? What idol are you still consulting instead of going straight to God?
It's time to say goodbye to Babylon. Bye-bye to the tarot cards. Bye-bye to the horoscopes. Bye-bye to every voice that speaks contrary to the Word of God. Babylon tricked you for a while, but not anymore. You're walking away.

The 400 and the One
One of the most sobering stories in Scripture involves King Ahab seeking prophetic counsel. He gathered 400 prophets who all told him exactly what he wanted to hear: "Go to battle! You'll win!" But there was one prophet—just one—who spoke the truth, even though it meant rejection and imprisonment (2 Chronicles 18).
Here's the challenging question: Are you the 400 or the one?
Are you willing to speak truth even when it's unpopular? Will you stand alone if necessary, or do you need the approval of the crowd? Are you more concerned with being liked or being faithful?
The body of Christ desperately needs people who will be "the one"—those willing to go against the flow, to speak correction wrapped in love, to prophesy what God is actually saying rather than what people want to hear. Yes, it might cost you popularity. You might get struck on the cheek like the prophet in this story. But you'll have something far more valuable: integrity and the approval of God.

Shame Off of You
Perhaps the heaviest weight believers carry isn't physical but emotional: the weight of shame. Past mistakes. Bad decisions. Seasons of rebellion. The enemy loves to pile shame on God's children like a heavy blanket, suffocating growth and stealing joy.
But Scripture declares there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). If you've repented, shame has no legal right to your life. The blood of Jesus has washed you clean.
Shame off of you. Not shame on you—shame off of you.
You did some stupid things before you knew Jesus? Shame off. You backslid and made compromising choices? If you've repented, shame off. The enemy doesn't need help throwing shame around like manure, and too often, religious people have assisted him. Stop it. Be the person who helps remove shame from others, not add to it.

The Whistle of the Shepherd
There's a beautiful image in Zechariah: "I will whistle for them and gather them, for I will redeem them, and they shall increase as they once increased" (Zechariah 10:8).
Can you hear it? The Shepherd is whistling—calling His sheep to come closer. Not with a harsh command but with a gentle, beckoning sound. And as we draw near to Him, something remarkable happens: we also draw near to each other.
This is not the season to isolate. This is not the time to be a maverick Christian, doing your own thing away from the body of Christ. The Shepherd is calling us into nearness—with Him and with one another. There's safety in the flock. There's protection under the covering He's providing.
Something is coming that requires us to be close. We don't know all the details yet, but we can sense the urgency in the Spirit. Stay near the cross. Stay near the family. Stay near the church. Don't be caught vulnerable and alone when the enemy prowls.

You Won't Miss It
Finally, here's a word for those who fear they've missed God's plan for their life: You haven't missed it. It's not behind you. It's still ahead of you.
God hasn't changed His mind about you. Your mistakes didn't cancel His purpose. That door of opportunity isn't closing—it's opening, and the Spirit of God is leading you through it.
Stop rehearsing your failures and start walking in faith. Repent, receive forgiveness, learn the lesson, and move forward. You are not going through that door alone. The hand of God is upon you, guiding you, strengthening you, preparing you.
The best is yet to come. Greater works are ahead. Your kingdom assignment is bigger than you think. And the God who began a good work in you will complete it.

The Shepherd is whistling. Are you drawing near?