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Intention

To ready our hearts to lay hold of the outpouring of God

Scripture

“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?”
– Psalm 85:6

Reflection

“All the true revivals have been born in prayer. When God’s people become so concerned about the state of religion that they lie on their faces day and night in earnest supplication, the blessing will be sure to fall.”
– E. M. Bounds

During this month, we will ask God to move powerfully in our midst. We long to see God sweep across our nation, transforming it into the promised dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. But what does true revival actually look like and how should we pray?

Evan Roberts, the young man greatly used in the Welsh Revival, spoke of four keys to revival. These are helpful as we seek personal and corporate revival in our own lives:

Firstly, sin must be confessed to God, and wrongs committed against others must be put right. Secondly, we must turn away from the past through repentance and look to establish a Godly path that embraces the future. Thirdly, there must be radical obedience to the Holy Spirit. And, finally, there must be a public confession of Christ.

These are serious times in which we live, and we must humble ourselves in prayer, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways. We must be prepared to pay a price, for revival does not come without a cost, both at the personal and corporate levels.

Unity and prayer are two key elements needed for revival. Revival will not come without a hunger and thirst after God that brings about intense prayer. Similarly, revival will not come until we realise that we need each other, so when it does come, we can present a true image of Jesus to the world.

God must prepare us — His Church — personally and corporately for the self-sacrifice that revival entails. May we not draw back but prepare to lay hold of this glorious end-time outpouring of God with all our hearts as the radiant Bride of Christ, who is willing to sacrifice all so that people might be saved.

Video

Prayer

Father God, we desire that You would move upon our nation in revival.

We acknowledge that we have not kept You at the centre of our lives, nor the life of our nation. Forgive us for that and give us the ability to turn our lives around. Let us re-focus again on who You are, on Your promises, which we have discarded for what the world has offered us.

Re-form us as Your people into Your own image and allow us to reflect Your Glory to a lost and hurting world. Revive us again, O Lord, that Your people may rejoice in You.

Amen.

Author Bio

Brian Pickering is the National Coordinator of the Australian Prayer Network, Australia’s largest prayer network of around 7000 members from all Christian denominations. One of the main aims of the APN is to see spiritual renewal and revival of the Church and spiritual and social transformation of the nation. They also aim to equip and train the church for more effective prayer.

Prayer Points for 31 Days of Prayer & Fasting for Revival

1. To worship Jesus and give extravagant praise to God. Hebrews 12:28-29
2. Pray that the Lamb who was slain might receive the reward for His suffering. Revelation 5:6-14
3. Pray for Revival for Australia and for millions to find Christ. Isaiah 64:1-2

We invite you to support this prayer and fasting campaign to multiply prayer, to see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and revival and transformation for Australia. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for Family, Faith, Freedom, Life, and the Good News of God’s love through Jesus Christ His son.

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Daily devotions are brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.