Thursday, July 9, 2015

Why Do You Pray for Revival?

READ Isaiah 37-38

Why do you pray for revival? Of course, that assumes that you do. But if you do, then why? Is it because you see how bad things are in the world and times are becoming increasingly difficult for you individually? So that you want things to be easier in your life and you want to avoid any suffering or hard times that might come your way because of your faith in Christ. Is that why you pray for revival?

When it’s stated like that I think it becomes rather obvious that this kind of motivation is insufficient and not where our hearts ought to be. But if that is true then what is the proper reason to ask God to send a spiritual awakening and fires of revival in the land? I think Hezekiah captured the essence of a right heart in relation to seeking the Lord for salvation and renewal in 37:20, “So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”

The glory of God — that’s it — that alone is the primary reason we should want to see God move in great spiritual awakening. As the Psalmist also cried out: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6) The focus of our desire for revival and spiritual awakening should be on God himself, not on any ease and comfort it might bring to us.

Prayer: Father, help us to get our hearts and our desires in line with your thoughts and your ways. Help us to know with all our beings that you alone are God and you alone deserve the praises of your creation. Help us to see that when you are most glorified in us then we are most blessed in our lives. Please, Lord, revive us again that we may rejoice in you and in you alone.

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