When To Stop Praying For Revival

You know when it's time to stop praying for revival?

1) When your actions are not matching up with your words and 2) When you're relying on an event, person, group, church, world event, or anything else to put you in a certain mood so you can turn to God, pray to Him and worship Him. In other words, when you're relying on a "revival" and not God.

At this point, you're just being hypocritical or have been stirred into wishful thinking.

Addressing believers, the question then becomes: When and where does revival happen?

Anytime and anyplace.

If you turn to God in repentance, right now, you will be refreshed! The Bible says so (see the short list of Bible verses at the end of this post).

You may say, But I'm saved, I'm good with God...I don't need to repent. Ok, let's assume that's true. But do you want to get closer to God? To know Him more intimately? Do you want your life to be refreshed by the Holy Spirit in such a way that it overflows into the lives of others around you? That too can happen, right now. So...what are you waiting for?

Growing up, I can recall how waves (for lack of a better term) of fervent prayer and devotion to God would come over the youth of our church and the surrounding churches. Sometimes they were, more or less, planned and announced ahead of time (carried out in the form of prayer nights/vigils), other times, they were more spontaneous. It was wonderful to see young men and women seeking the face of God, being filled and baptized with the Holy Spirit. Some even went on to get baptized in water.

This is the promise of God for us and for future generations and we are to make the most of these opportunities. However...

You know what was not wonderful?

Seeing some of those same people go back to their old ways, shortly after.

They might have been able to pray out loud for a few nights, surrounded by friends and family but what happened when they were alone, just them and God?

Sadly, not all of them were born again and they never developed the spiritual discipline of building a personal altar on which God's fire can be experienced. I say this with a heavy heart and much responsibility. Had it not been for God's grace, none of us would even be here. I am what I am by the grace of God. To the point...

Are waves of refreshing beneficial and needed? Absolutely. But they should serve as a spark to your personal, daily altar.

In the end, everyone, individually will give an account to God (Rom.14:12). Not en masse.

We need a paradigm shift... 

• Revival is not strictly an event
• Revival is not what happens every 3 months at a youth conference
• Revival is not limited to what happens during or after an 'altar' call
• Revival is not started by some famous preacher or group of elite Christians
• Revival is not a trend
• Revival is not a hashtag, slogan or an Instagram-able moment
• Revival need not be commercialized (I mean, I do like those t-shirts and all)
• Revival must not (and cannot) replace my personal, daily time with God
• Revival always follows repentance, never the other way around
• Revival is normal for a healthy Christian, family or church

For the (true) Christian, revival is a perpetual state of the heart. Why? Because they always want to be connected with God.

Like we see of David in Psalm 51, if they've gone astray, they repent. And revival happens. If they experienced God's blessing or an answer to prayer, they praise Him. And revival happens.

Altar-builders have this mindset: I get to meet with God and so, by His grace, I will!

No need to wait for that top-selling worship band to come on stage or that influencer to come in town for an 'epic' conference. One might say, "Danny, no need to be sarcastic." I agree. But there's a dire need to be realistic and honest, especially with this young generation who is always claiming they're tired of traditions and a watered-down message.

There came a time in my life when God said, "Grow up." I wish it happened sooner but God is certainly not to blame for that.

God has already done everything required for you, me and anyone on planet earth to experience revival. He has given us Jesus Christ!

Mark 1:15 records what we might call a summary of Jesus’ message as He began His ministry: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Repentance and faith go together because if you believe that Jesus is the Lord who can save you (faith), you have a changed mind and attitude about your sin and about you as a person (repentance). The Holy Spirit opens your spiritual eyes and begins to manifest the character of Jesus in your life. This leads to a new, refreshed life from God, which is revival!

Search yourself. What more do you want God to do!?

Revival can happen while you are alone in your room or while you're driving to another state or city. Or it might be in a small group during prayer or Bible study. Or it might happen right now as you're reading this.

Wherever. Whenever. Revival is a state of the heart. It is found in the believer (or non-believer with a repentant heart) that takes God at His Word and draws near to Him, whether he/she is feeling down or whether their heart is ready to sing (see Psalms 56:8).

Want revival?

​Today is the day.

Psalm 85:6
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Psalm 80:19
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people who are called by my name 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.

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