How to Have Revival: Power of Praying Scripture
Scott says “in order to be RE-vived, you must first be VIVED”. In other words, revival is for saved people! Before you seek revival, you must be born again. To have this new life means to be made a new creature. But even saved people lose their zeal and have valleys in the walk with the Lord. It’s in those low times that we must pray for revival- in our hearts, in our homes, and in our churches. There is power in the Word of God- what an opportunity to make our prayers count.
Ask the Lord to Search Your Heart
Psalm 139:23-24 says “Search me O God, and know my heart: Try me and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked ay in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. To have revival, we must be vulnerable to allow the Lord to work in our hearts. I must ask the Lord to show me any wickedness in my life so that I can root it out. I cannot have revival if I am living in sin, and sometimes only the Lord can convict me.
This scripture is a prayer of repentance: turning from sin and turning to the Lord. It is an acknowledgement of God’s omniscience and a request to reveal our sins. It also offers a renewal to our spirit as the Lord leads us unto righteousness.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9. Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal your sins so that you can confess and repent and move forward with the Lord. If you want revival, you must have a clear conscience and a desire to be holy- else your motives will not align with God’s.
Seek the Lord to Rescue You
Call out to the Lord to save you- not for salvation, but as a drowning man calling for a rescue. We fall out of revival and into the mundane when we get our eyes off of Jesus on affixed onto the world around us. Just as Peter let his gaze drift to the boisterous storm around him and let his faith slip, we must get our eyes off the world and lock our vision onto the Lord. It is as simple as calling out to the Lord for rescue. “Lord, save me. Lord, pull me back into the boat. Lord, get my eyes affixed on you and your will”.
Matthew 14: 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
His Grace is Sufficient
In Exodus chapter 33, Moses sought the Lord to show His grace. The people were turning against Moses and Moses was asking the Lord for help. After all the Lord had done through and with Moses, Moses was weary from the journey and needed revival to continue in what God had called him to do. The he poured out his heart unto God, God answered and showed Moses his grace. All Moses wanted was to see the glory of God in his dire situation. And when God heard Moses, He passed before him, that Moses might see the glory of God.
This story can take place in our lives when we seek revival. The journey is long and we will grow weary. The people around us may murmur and complain and turn away. We may feel the burden of serving the Lord in loneliness and find ourselves frustrated. But as Moses did, we can pour our hearts out before the Lord and beg to see his glory through it all. And with faith, the Lord with administer his grace, that we may see His glory and find the strength to stand and continue. Though sometimes we look for excitement and profundity as a sign of revival, sometimes revival comes in the form of simply receiving God’s grace and recognizing that it’s all for His glory.
A Willingness to be Sent brings Revival
As the Lord works in my heart to reveal my sins, I see my need for him. This understanding will cause me to call out for him to lift me up out of the valley and seek a place of revival. When I am weary, burdened, and weak, I can call out to God and he will show his grace and his glory, that I might have the strength to serve Him another day. And finally, when he has rekindled my strength, I will find the opportunity to surrender. Without surrender, there will not truly be any revival.
In Isaiah chapter 6, we see this process take place, step by step, as Isaiah speaks to the Lord. When Isaiah saw the presence of the Lord, he immediately recognized his sin and the need to rid himself of it. The Lord cleanses his sins, and Isaiah is fit to stand before the Lord. As Isaiah looked to the Lord for grace and mercy, God offered it to him. And as the Lord sought a servant so send out to do His will, Isaiah’s heart was revived and he surrendered unto the Lord. His simple submission was “Here am I, Lord, send me.” If this would be the cry of our hearts, we would live in constant revival.
Revival Must Come Through Surrender
God wants to send revival in our hearts, homes, and lives. He is simply waiting for us to allow him. We must ask Him to search our hearts and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We must seek his grace to rescue us form the cares of the world. His grace is sufficient to pull us out of sin and apathy, and he will show us his glory in every situation. And finally, we must surrender to His will. A willing heart will find revival and the grace to do teh will of the Lord!
