Pray for Revival: 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If My people…will humble themselves…”
1. We need to pray that we as Christians would bow down before our Lord each day, so that we may receive His grace daily to live as we should. James wrote, “Submit therefore to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter turn into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord and He will exalt you.
- I would suggest that we need to “submit…draw near…humble yourselves” daily. Let’s not come running to God only when we are in need. Submit daily! Draw near daily! Humble yourselves daily!
2. Pray that all those who do have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ will walk in the spirit of humility, as Jesus walked, and live in recognition that pride leads to destruction and humility precedes honor. Pray that the Spirit of God would soften hearts and bring people to the realization of their need for a Savior.
- “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, humility goes before honor.” Proverbs 18:12
3. Pray that Christian husbands and wives will be humble in their spirit, in order that their prayers might be answered. Let’s not hinder our prayers to our God by living un-presentable to our Lord. Honor your husband or wife.
- “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7
4. Pray that younger Christians would clothe themselves with humility, respecting their elders, lifting all of their concerns to God, and trusting God to exalt them at the proper time. To many times, our youth is taught by our culture that everything comes quickly. We have Internet, fast food, and 30 min. TV. Shows. We need to pray that our youth would trust God for the right timing of all things.
- “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time…” 1 Peter 5:5-6
5. Pray that times of crisis would be tangible reminders of what we deserve apart from the mercy of God. (Titus 3:1-9)
- “For the wages of sin are death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
- We all deserve death, but are extended grace. Let these daily crisis’s be a reminder to what we all deserve and are saved from through grace by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
6. Pray that God’s people would assume responsibility for the moral and spiritual erosion of our nation and world.
- Just as Ezra confessed, let us do the same. “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to You, my God, our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has even grown to the heavens.” Ezra 9:6
“…and pray…”
1. Pray that God’s people unite in praying for all who are in authority. God had put those in authority where they are for His greater glory. Pray that they would acknowledge His word.
- “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties an prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior…” 1 Timothy 2:1-4
2. Pray that our first response as Christians would be to pray when we become anxious about any circumstance. Many times, we get worried about a situation and run around with are head cut off trying to find a solution. Finally we find ourselves crying out to God to find peace in the situation. God was waiting for you to come to Him the whole time! Come to your Father first.
- “Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
- “Call to Me and I will answer you great and mighty things that you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
3. Pray that God would bring up an army of prayer warriors who are willing to preserve in prayer and wage war against the enemy.
- Read the parable on prayer. Luke 18:1-8
“…and seek My face…”
1. Pray that adult Christians would set a pattern of seeking God first in all things, so that younger generations may find their hope and strength in the Lord. We all know how wondering little one’s eyes are. They are always observing the elders and taking after them. Why don’t we show live a life of open prayer and watch them grow up to bring everything to our Lord.
- “…that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him…” Acts 17:27
2. Pray that God would increase our belief in His ability to intervene supernaturally and do the impossible. Many Christians talk of faith, but to very little to preserve their faith.
- “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who come to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
3. Pray that God’s people would not be self-sufficient. May we see and desire for help from God and others. From a toddler to adult, our culture teaches us that we “can do it” and “you can do anything if you just put your mind to it.” Not completely true. We can only do what God gives us the strength to do.
- “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
- “Not that we are adequate in ourselves, but our adequacy comes from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:5
4. Pray that a healthy fear of God would permeate our hearts and minds. Ask God to deliver us from the fear of man. A lot of times I hear people saying that they do not want to do something because it might upset their friend, relative, or co-worker. If we only had that type of fear and reverence for the One true God!
- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning to knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7
- “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.” Proverbs 29:25
“…and turn from their wicked ways…”
1. Pray that Christians will meditate daily on the word of God allowing God to conform them to the image of Christ. If you constantly partake of this world, you will get full and have no time or room for God. Thus you will begin to conform to the world. Let us fill our appetite on God’s word and be to full to partake of this world.
- “Your word I have treasured in my heart so that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11
2. Pray that God’s people will honestly acknowledge their sins, seek God’s forgiveness, and expose all sin appropriately. Sin is sin. Don’t think your bad thoughts are not as bad as you running a red light. There are not only sins of commission, but sins of omission.
3. Pray that believers will accept accountability from godly people.
- “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another sop that you may be healed. The affective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
“…then I will hear from Heaven…”
1. Praise God that His arm is not too short to save. Claim the promise that the Lord draws near to all those who call upon Him in truth.
- “Behold, the Lord’s arm is not so short, that it cannot save; nor is His ear too dull, that it cannot hear.” Psalm 59:1
- “The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” Psalm 145:18
“…and He will forgive their sin…”
1. Thank God for His promise to extend mercy to those who confess and forsake their sin and that He is faithful and just to forgive sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them ill find compassion.” Proverbs 28:13
- “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
“…and He will heal their land…”
1. Praise the Lord that He promises to heal those who have fallen away, and bind up the wounds of the torn and bruised, and restore the years the locusts have eaten.
- “Come, let us return to the Lord, For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.” Hosea 6:1
- “Then I will make up to you for the years that the swarming locusts have eaten, The creeping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the gnawing locusts, My great army which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25
Pray for a revival in our land and world. Pray first!
