Revival through Prayer
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Revival is birthed through prayer
“If we intercede like never before, God will intervene like never before.” — Mark Batterson
Habakkuk 3:2 (ESV) O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.”
In this verse Habakkuk prayed because revival was desperately needed. God’s people had become forgetful and careless in their devotion and obedience to God.
The word “O” expresses a deeply-felt longing for revival. The prophet prayed ‘O Lord’; what intensity of feeling. Are we burdened like this?
The word “Lord” (repeated) declares that God is the author of revival. Habakkuk’s prayer was rightly directed to the Lord because revival comes from Heaven. It cannot be worked up; it needs to be prayed down. It is not man’s doing, but God’s.
The words “I have heard the report of you, and your work” show how revival begins. Revival always starts understanding what God can do. The Amplified Bible says” God, I’ve heard what our ancestors say about you, and I’m stopped in my tracks, down on my knees. Do among us what you did among them.” Is this not powerful, “I have heard what is said about you”. What are you hearing? Habakkuk heard Revival and stopped in his tracks. At the point he went down on his knees, and asked God to do it among them, as he did before. Stop, listen, what are you hearing? Listen carefully. I am hearing the sound of Revival.
Isaiah 66:2 (ESV) “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
Psalm 85:6-8 (AMP) “Will You not revive us and bring us to life again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation. 8 I will hear [with expectant hope] what God the Lord will say, For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones—But let them not turn again to folly.”
So often we rush into God’s presence and do all the talking, without allowing God to speak to us.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It’s in stillness, not busyness, that we tune our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. The Lord always speaks to us in that “STILL, small voice.