Reviving Our Hearts: A Call to Prayer and Preparation
Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV) states, “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”
This ancient cry of the prophet Habakkuk expresses a deep longing: “Repeat them in our day!” We often hear inspiring stories of past revivals—moments when God’s presence filled communities like a purifying fire, igniting faith and transforming lives. We desire that same revival here and now.
However, revival is not a mere event that we can initiate at will. It begins within the quiet, prepared hearts of God’s people, as they cry out together. True revival prayer starts with preparation. Let’s explore how we can ready ourselves for this sacred journey of seeking God’s renewing power.
1. Recognizing the Need: The Foundation
Habakkuk did not cry out in complacency. He recognized the brokenness and sin surrounding him, understanding the urgent need for God’s mercy (Habakkuk 1:2-4).
Preparation starts with an honest spiritual assessment. To pray effectively for revival in our communities, we must first acknowledge our own need. Where have we grown cold? Where have we compromised? In what areas have we allowed comfort to overshadow our convictions?
Action: Ask God for the courage to see ourselves and our church through His eyes. Pray Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” This process is not about condemnation but about acknowledging our need for His mercy and power.
2. Humility and Repentance: The Posture
God’s path to revival is clear: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Humble Themselves: This is about moving away from self-sufficiency. We must recognize that revival is an act of God, not something we can orchestrate ourselves. It involves setting aside our agendas and pride.
Pray and Seek My Face: This means pursuing God’s presence and character, desiring the Giver more than merely asking for the gift of revival.
Turn from Wicked Ways: True seeking requires genuine repentance—turning away from personal sin, corporate sin, and tolerated sin, seeking to make things right.
Preparation requires adopting this posture before any prayer meeting. Come with a heart that is already humbled, seeking, and repenting. How can we expect God to move profoundly among us if we hold onto unconfessed sin or pride?
3. Aligning with God’s Heart: The Focus
Habakkuk rooted his prayer in awe of God’s greatness, stating, “I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds.”
Preparation involves immersing ourselves in God’s Word and His character. While it’s valuable to study past revivals, we must also delve deeply into the Gospels. Witness Jesus’ compassion, His power over sin and sickness, and His heart for the lost. Engage with the Psalms, absorbing their expressions of awe and dependence, and read the Prophets to understand God’s passion for justice and holiness.
Action: Spend time before our revival prayers meditating on God’s greatness. Consider reading Isaiah 6, Revelation 4-5, or Psalm 145. Let your prayers emerge not only from a desire for change but from a profound reverence for the God who can change us.
4. Cultivating Expectation: Faith and Persistence
Jesus taught us to pray as if we have already received (Mark 11:24). This is not about presumption; it’s rooted in faith in God’s character and promises.
Preparation involves developing expectant faith. Do we genuinely believe that God desires to revive His people? Do we trust that He can? Are we ready for what that revival might entail? (It often challenges our comfort zones).
Action: Be prepared for persistence. Revival rarely results from just one quick prayer. Reflect on the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) and commit to ongoing prayer, even when the results are not immediate. Don’t lose heart in doing good (Galatians 6:9).
5. Surrendering to God’s Will: The Surrender
Habakkuk prayed for God to act now, saying, “in our day, in our time.” Yet his plea was also a recognition of God’s sovereignty: “in wrath remember mercy.”
Preparation culminates in surrendering to God’s timing and methods. We fervently pray for revival but must yield to how and when God chooses to work. As Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.”
Action: As we prepare, pray: “Lord, revive us! Do it in our day! But let Your will be done, even if it looks different from our expectations. Shape us to desire You above all else.”
Conclusion
The call to revival prayer is a sacred one. It’s not a casual request but a challenge to engage in spiritual transformation and deep intimacy with God. We cannot answer this call lightly; we must prepare ourselves.
As we gather for revival prayer, let it not be merely the start of our seeking, but the overflow of hearts already ready and turned towards Him, echoing Habakkuk’s cry: “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds. Repeat them in our day; in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”
Prayer
Gracious and Almighty God,
We stand before You, filled with awe for who You are and what You have done. Forgive us for our complacency, sin, and self-sufficiency. Search our hearts, O God, and reveal anything that hinders Your Spirit. Humble us and give us repentant hearts that turn towards You. Ignite in us a deep hunger for Your presence and a profound majesty for Your greatness. Align our desires with Yours and fill us with expectant faith as we seek Your face. Together, we cry out: Revive Your work, O Lord! Do it in our day! Above all, may Your perfect will be done. We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen.
“May you go forth confident in this: that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Go forth, prepare your hearts, and may the Lord cultivate a holy expectation for what He will do. Amen.
