Creating space for an outpouring
From a video by ThinQ
On February 8, 2023 in Wilmore, Kentucky, what began as a routine Wednesday Chapel service with the Astbury University student body turned into a multi-week Outpouring that some have described as a revival. Led by students, the impromptu services attracted college students from hundreds of other colleges and universities from around the world. Media outlets arrived en masse to cover the spiritual awakening among students with countless reports of healing, salvation, and re-dedications to Christ flooding the news. The Outpouring lasted for 16 days, culminating in a service specifically for students on February 23, 2023.
At the Asbury Outpouring, pastor and revival leader, Zach Meerkreebs witnessed first hand what happens when people make room for the Holy Spirit to work. In a talk on ThinQ, Zach unpacks how we can posture ourselves to receive an outpouring of God’s presence.
He calls us to move beyond just longing for revival and instead take practical steps to create space for God to move in our lives, our churches, and our culture. Zach reminds us that revival isn’t something we manufacture - it’s something we prepare for. Zach makes it clear that when we surrender, seek Him, and cultivate expectant faith, we create the conditions for an outpouring that can transform not just our lives, but entire communities.
Here is a summary of his ThinQ talk:
In 2023, I had the honour of speaking about Romans 12 about love [a 26min video] at a very ordinary and mandatory chapel service at Asbury University. I ran out of time with seven more slides to go, finishing with a plea and a prayer for the students to experience the love of God so that they could love others.
Given the overrun, I said that I would stay on for anyone who wanted to continue. Everyone left except 19 students. They contended. They wanted to experience God. I texted my wife to say the sermon was not so hot and I'll be home soon. Two hours later, I texted my wife, saying I think I can do something and I'm staying on. Four hours later, I'm weeping on voice memo saying, "God just moved into the room".
There were no professionals, no sparkles, no lights. There were just lots of 18 to 21 year olds who were seeking the face of God.
16 days later, the whole world knew about this movement. Immediately, people started asking me questions; "What's your prayer life like?", "What did you do the night before?", "What's your sermon notes look like?", "What's your diet?". It's not great. And the truth is, the night before, I was listening to a true crime podcast, eating Twizzlers, speeding on the highway from Columbus to Kentucky.
I think a lot of people, when we start talking about revival or renewal or outpouring, want a list. We want a list of things. And many times, there are good things. Prayer, fasting, worship, evangelism, preaching, a different style, right? We think that those things will lead towards revival. awakening, outpouring, encounter, blessing, which is totally good and those will probably have a role to play in those moments.
But I serve a God that actually zooms further in and asks you questions about your heart or your posture. So, as we're pursuing revivals, as we are creating space for an outpouring, I don't want to give you a prescription. I want to give you a description, and that description is the posture of your heart.
What if our posture leads to the greatest prize? The greatest prize is not revival over 16 days - it's Jesus. And the greatest thing that I can be known by is not the guy who preached at Asbury, but a person who said yes to Jesus. And the greatest thing he could look at when he sees you, is that you're his friend.
So how do we posture our hearts?
Something that I've seen throughout Scripture, throughout history, has been a regular practice in my life. I do this when I wake up before my day. I do it before every meeting I go to. And I do it afterwards as well. And this is what it looks like:
First, something that's key for renewal is to allow yourself, to get more comfortable with being confronted. Confronted by the character of Christ confronting your character. Does that make sense? In our church services we need to be okay to be confronted so the Church can look more like Christ.
Second, because of what you're confronted with, you confess. It's hard to be full of spirit if you're full yourself.
The next one is consecration. Your giftedness must pass through the throne room and link to the world. If it does not pass through the throne room, it's going to be for yourself. Consecration means set apart. So if you're a businessman, set apart your business for the work of Jesus. If you're a musician, set apart that work for the work of Jesus. If you're a preacher, set apart preaching for the work of Jesus. If you're a thinker, set apart that work for the work of Jesus.
And then from that place you contend. Authentic, raw prayers. "God, your reputation is at stake if you don't move on my campus.", "Your reputation is at stake if you don't take Nashville back.", "Your reputation is at stake if Gen Z keeps on going the way it is." We need to contend.
Zach then takes the audience through a quick 2 minute exercise on the above.
View the ThinQ 9 minute video here.
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From a video by ThinQ, 24/06/2025