Day 8: Is Revival Coming?
Intention
To pray for God to do the impossible and bring salvation and revival.
Scripture
“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
– Luke 18:27
Reflection
Recently the British atheist Richard Dawkins made waves by saying that if push came to shove, he would far rather have Christianity than Islam. He has warm feelings about the former and enjoys old hymns and Christmas carols.
While this sort of ‘cultural Christianity’ does not of course make him a Christian, it is certainly a move in the right direction. Who would have thought he would have said such things when he released The God Delusion almost 20 years ago?
But times might be changing. Dawkins was one of the infamous ‘four horsemen’ of the new atheists, along with Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett and Christopher Hitchens. The last two are no more, with Dennett just recently passing away. I have long been praying for these folks. My daily prayer list grows (as I add new names) or shrinks (as the ones I pray for either become Christians or pass away).
Hitchens was said to have perhaps found faith when he succumbed to cancer back in 2011. And his brother Peter (also once an atheist) is now a committed and outspoken Christian. In a recent article, I featured multiple well-known individuals who moved on from atheism or rugged agnosticism to Christianity!
We may have thought it was impossible that some of these figures would come to Christ. But they did. And we will never know in this life just how much good our prayers have done in this regard.
Without a doubt, God is obviously at work through prayer. That is why many of these people are on my daily prayer list.
And consider some other leading public figures, intellectuals and celebrities who all seem quite close to becoming Christians. Perhaps they already have. They include Jordan Peterson, Tom Holland, Douglas Murray, James Delingpole, Naomi Wolf, Joe Rogan, Russell Brand and many more.
As Delingpole tweeted a few years ago, “Almost everyone who gets it is either a Christian or heading that way. What does that tell you?”
Yes indeed, it is most telling, and all the more reason to keep praying for people like this. By God’s grace, we see many figures coming to an end of themselves and a new beginning with God. This may even be a growing phenomenon in the West.
We are at a place where we need major revival – or we perish. Are these recent conversions perhaps part of such a move of God? We can pray to that end.
Video
Prayer
Lord,
You have done this millions of times before, and You can do it again. Whether it was an arch-persecutor of the church like Saul or a reluctant convert such as C. S. Lewis, You have been changing lives for millennia.
You use the prayers of Your people in this grand endeavour. Teach us to pray Lord, and never to faint.
Amen.
Author Bio
Bill Muehlenberg ministers as an apologist and ethicist in Melbourne, Australia. He was one of the main drafters of the Canberra Declaration. Bill is a prolific author and a much sought-after media commentator. Bill teaches ethics, apologetics and theology at several Melbourne Bible Colleges. He hosts his blog called CultureWatch.
Prayer Points and Purpose for GO Month 2024
- To worship Jesus and give extravagant praise to God. 1 Chron 16:23–31.
- To pray for revival, repentance and deliverance for Australia and for millions to find Christ. Acts 2:1–41.
- To pray for five people by name to find Christ and share the gospel with those five in May. Matt 28:18–20.
We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to Christ. 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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DATES: Every night in May
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Daily devotions are brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.
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Thanks Bill for the reminder God can the impossible especially in response to prayer for Revival …
Thanks Stephen.
Thanks Bill, You’ve reminded me about praying for Andrew Bolt, who I’ve noticed frequently defends Christians and Jews. Of course I don’t always agree with Bolt’s opinions on various matters, but I respect that he is unafraid to state what he believes is right.