How To Pray for Revival: Part I by Ray Ortlund

Over the last several weeks we’ve been sharing a list of ways to reach out to our neighbors with the love and hope of Jesus. As we grow in the passion and skill in making disciples for the glory of Christ in the Elk River area, I ask you to join me in praying that Jesus will graciously send revival to our area and even beyond. In this hope, I want to share a helpful article over the next two weeks by Ray Ortlund on how to pray for revival. I pray that God will inspire you as you read to add this kind of praying to your daily prayer routine.

“When Jonathan Edwards described the awakening in his church, he had to use words like ‘surprising,’ ‘extraordinary’ and ‘astonishing.’ The Bible says of the early church that ‘awe came upon every soul’ (Acts 2:43). We can’t program that into our worship: 10:45 am – Awe comes upon every soul. Since revival is of God, we should pray for it. But how? The Bible teaches us how to pray; Isaiah 63:15-64:12 is a biblical prayer for revival.

“LONGING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD: ‘Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me’ (63:15). Isaiah is saying, ‘Father, your mighty heart beats with so much passion for us. But you’re holding back. We need more of you!’ We can pray for the outpouring of God’s felt love upon us.

“LAMENTING OUR OWN HARDNESS: ‘O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?’ (63:17). Isaiah is not blaming God for our sins, but he is saying God can hand us over to the power of our sins. We think we can play with sin, no big deal. But it isn’t that simple. When we are stuck, we can ask God to move toward us and free us again: ‘Return for the sake of your servants’ (63:17).

“LONGING FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD: ‘Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down!’ (64:1). God hung the starry canopy above us like a big curtain in space (Isaiah 40:22). Isaiah is saying God can take that curtain in his mighty hands, so to speak, rip it apart and step down into our world with power from above. ‘When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down’ (64:3). Our God is full of surprises. Let’s never settle for any status quo.”

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