When We See God, We See Ourselves

There is one thing we often forget in our spiritual lives: the more we see the holiness of God, the more clearly we see the condition of our own hearts.

Isaiah experienced this when he received a vision of the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne. The seraphim cried out:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty.”

In the presence of God's holiness, Isaiah did not boast about his position as a prophet. He did not list his good qualities. He did not compare himself with others.

Instead, he said: “Woe to me! I am ruined!”

Encountering the holy God brought Isaiah to a realization of his own condition.

This is also what needs to happen in our lives. Sometimes we want to see God change the world around us, but God first wants us to allow Him to change our hearts.

We pray for revival. We pray for Borneo. We pray for the church.

But true revival begins when we stand before the holy God and say:

“God, change me first.”

1. God's Holiness Opens Our Eyes to the Condition of Our Hearts

Isaiah saw God as the holy King. When he saw God's holiness, he saw himself more clearly.

This shows that God's holiness becomes like a mirror that reveals the condition of our hearts. Without God, we may think that we are good enough.

We may say :

“I have not committed any major sin.”

“I am better than other people.”

“I have served God for many years.”

“I have prayed a lot.”

But the real question is not: “Am I better than other people?”

The question is: “Is my life holy before God?”

We are not called to measure ourselves against other people.

We are called to examine our lives according to the Word of God.

The closer we draw to God, the more we realize that we still need His grace, forgiveness, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

This awareness is not meant to destroy us. Instead, it leads us to repentance and restoration.

2. Repentance Begins With Honesty Before God

Isaiah said: “I am a man of unclean lips.”

He did not hide his condition. He did not say :

“God, actually, I am better than the rest of the Israelites.”

He did not blame his surroundings. He admitted :

“I am the one with the problem.”

This is the spiritual courage we need in our lives. We need to be willing to come before God honestly.

Not with our image.

Not with our achievements.

Not with our positions.

Not with our ministry.

But with our true hearts.

God already knows everything about us. We do not need to pretend before Him.

If there is sin, confess it.

If there is bitterness, surrender it.

If there is pride, humble yourself.

If there is disobedience, return to God.

If our love for God has grown cold, ask Him to set it on fire again.

Repentance begins when we stop defending ourselves and start allowing God to work within us.

3. God Cleanses Before He Sends

Something beautiful happened after Isaiah's confession.

One of the seraphim took a burning coal from the altar and touched Isaiah's lips. Then it was said:

“Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” — Isaiah 6:7

Notice the order:

Vision of God → Awareness of sin → Confession → Cleansing → Forgiveness → Sending

God did not stop at forgiveness. He prepared Isaiah for a greater assignment.

Then God asked: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

Isaiah answered: “Here am I. Send me!”

This is an important principle for the Revive Borneo Prayer Movement.

God wants to cleanse us before He uses us.

Sometimes we want God to use us greatly, but we do not want Him to touch the hidden areas of our lives.

We want anointing, but we do not want cleansing.

We want power, but we do not want repentance.

We want revival, but we do not want God to examine our hearts.

But God is calling us to a deeper life.

Before our hands can be used by God, our hearts must be surrendered to God.

4. Revival Requires God's People to Be Willing to Be Cleansed

We often talk about revival as something that happens on a large scale.

But the history of revival shows that great changes often begin with a small group of people who earnestly seek God, humble themselves, and repent.

Revival is not simply: more people coming to church.

Revival is: more hearts returning to God.

Revival is not simply: more spiritual programs.

Revival is: more lives transformed by the Holy Spirit.

Revival is not simply: more people talking about God.

Revival is: more people truly living for God.

That is why we need to pray: “God, start revival in me.”

If every believer sincerely prayed this way, revival could begin in one heart, then spread to one family, one church, one community, and eventually throughout all of Borneo.

5. From “Woe to Me” to “Send Me”

Isaiah's story shows a beautiful transformation.

At first he said: “Woe to me!”

After experiencing God's forgiveness and cleansing, he said: “Here am I. Send me!”

Repentance does not make us passive people.

Repentance prepares us to become God's instruments.

When God touches our hearts, we no longer ask only: “What can God do for me?”

We begin to ask: “What does God want to do through me?”

This is the heart of a revivalist.

A heart that has been touched by God.

A heart that has been forgiven.

A heart that has been cleansed.

A heart that is ready to say: “God, use me.”

Borneo needs God's people like this.

Not merely people who are good at talking about revival, but people who are willing to live in holiness, pray diligently, love souls, and be witnesses for Christ wherever God has placed them.

< PERSONAL REFLECTION >

Spend a few minutes before God this week. Ask yourself:

1. What is God showing me about the condition of my heart?

2. Is there something I am trying to hide or defend before God?

3. What sin or attitude do I need to confess and leave behind?

4. Do I desire God's blessings more than I desire God's holiness?

5. If God asks, “Whom shall I send?”, am I ready to say, “Here am I. Send me”?

Do not be afraid when God reveals our weaknesses. When God shows us our sin, He is not abandoning us. He is calling us closer to Him.

Repentance is not a doorway to condemnation for those who come humbly.

Repentance is a doorway to forgiveness, restoration, and new life.

Today, let us come before God like Isaiah.

Seeing His holiness. Acknowledging our condition. Receiving His forgiveness. Allowing Him to cleanse us.

Then saying: “Here am I. Send me!”

May the Revive Borneo Prayer Movement not merely be a prayer movement, but become a movement of hearts returning to God.

God, cleanse us. God, transform us. God, use us. God, revive Borneo!

< SHARE & DISCUSS >

1. What do you become aware of about yourself as you increasingly understand the holiness of God?

2. Why do we sometimes find it difficult to admit our own sins and weaknesses?

3. What is one thing God is asking you to “cleanse” or deal with in your life?

4. What does “Here am I, send me” mean in the context of your life and ministry today?

5. How can we become a people who prepare the way for revival in Borneo?

Share this devotional with your family and friends so that more of God's people in Borneo will be encouraged to see God's holiness, humble themselves, repent, receive cleansing, and be ready to be sent to bring Christ to Borneo.

"Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy." — Leviticus 19:2