Day 17: Revive Us Again
Bible passage: 2 Chronicles 7:11–14; Psalm 85:4–9
A Promise in the Night
Today is Friday 17th of January 2020. Welcome to Day 17 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Yesterday we prayed for life to come to our town. Today we pray for revival.
Solomon had finished building the Temple and had dedicated it with a great prayer. Then, one night, the Lord appeared to him and gave him a promise for the days when things would go wrong (2 Chronicles 7:12–14).
That promise was made to Israel, and we should be careful to say so. But it shows us the heart of God towards any people who turn back to Him.
What God Asks
Humble Ourselves
The promise begins with humility. We admit that God is God and that we are not. We stop defending ourselves and making excuses, and we come to Him aware of our need.
Pray
No revival in history has come without prayer. It has always been preceded by people praying earnestly, praying together and refusing to stop. If we want to see God move, we will have to ask Him.
Seek His Face
The promise speaks of seeking God’s face. There is a difference between that and seeking His hand. To seek His hand is to want what He can give us. To seek His face is to want Him. Revival is not first about our needs being met. It is about God being honoured.
Turn
The last condition is to turn from our wicked ways. God is not looking for religious words. He is looking for changed lives. Saying sorry is the beginning of repentance. Living differently is the proof of it.
What God Promises
Three Answers
He will hear. Our prayers are not lost. They reach heaven.
He will forgive. He removes our sins as far from us as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).
He will heal. He promises to restore the land of a people who return to Him.
Do It Again
The writer of Psalm 85 remembered what God had done in the past and asked Him to do it once more. “Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?” Psalm 85:6 (NLT)
He goes on to say that he is listening carefully to what the Lord is saying, because God speaks peace to His faithful people (Psalm 85:8). Revival begins when the church listens again.
Three Steps for Today
Start with yourself. Pray, “Lord, send revival, and begin it in me.” Ask Him what you need to turn from.
Seek His face. Spend time today wanting God Himself. Ask for nothing else.
Pray it wider. Pray for a fresh move of God in our church, and in the homes, schools, workplaces and streets of our community.
Prayer for Today:
Father, we humble ourselves before You. We pray, we seek Your face and we turn from our wicked ways. Hear us from heaven, forgive our sin and heal our land. Revive us again, so that Your people may rejoice in You. Let revival begin in me, and let it spread through our church, our community and our nation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
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