re vive

The 2022-2023 Christian life theme has been based around the prefix RE-, which simply means “again.” This theme is rooted in the psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 85:

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

— Psalm 85:6

Our constant desire for Wesleyan is that it would be a place of revival. A place where God brings new life and joy in Him, and hidden in this passage is a subtle reminder that revival is not a one-time thing but something that happens again and again.

The psalmist asks God to “revive us again.” By using both the prefix RE- and the word “again,” the psalmist doubles down on his request. He is not only asking God to give us life again; he is asking that God would give us life again…and again. And that is exactly what God does.

This theme reminds us that we serve a God who does things again and again and again – a truth which is also evident in Lamentations 3, another passage that inspired this theme.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

— Lamentations 3:22-23

Ironically, there is not a RE- prefix to be found in this passage. Instead, the key word here is faithfulness. Faithfulness is not simply one of God’s virtues; it is the one that makes every other virtue perfect. In this passage we see that the love of God is steadfast. It never ceases. And God’s mercy is new every morning. It never comes to an end.

God is not occasionally loving and merciful. He is faithfully loving and merciful. Or, to put it another way, God is repeatedly loving and merciful. God’s love and mercy are made perfect by His faithfulness because His mercy is new every morning, and He loves us again and again and again.

This year our Christian life theme celebrated the prefix RE- as a reminder that we serve a God who does not quit on sinners, give up on the broken, or abandon those who are dead in sin. We worship a God who revives, refines, renews, restores, redeems, and resurrects – again and again and again. And our response is to remember His Son with rejoicing and repentance – again and again and again. God is faithful to us. Let us remain faithful to Him.

Meagan Brooker, assistant director of fine arts, brings each monthly theme to life by creating a colorful poster grounded in biblical truth. She shares her gospelinspired creative process in monthly timelapse videos.