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. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14
The history of the church in India has seen a lot of prayer movements. Most times prayer movements die or fade out of the church when God doesn’t seem to be moving visibly! It happens in our personal walk with God also. When we see a delay in the answers to our prayers, it is but normal to be discouraged and to hold back and get less aggressive with our prayer times and lives! But the word from God here is very clear, Then I will hear from heaven! We never know how many days, hours or seconds we are away from “God’s THEN”
Persistence Matters: There are so many people praying for a revival, but only those who are serious continue to pray till they see one. I believe one of the reasons why God delays revival is to know if we are actually serious about seeing one and to check if we are mature enough to handle one. I remember talking to a dear friend and he was sharing with me about revivals. I was blessed to know what God has been speaking to him. When I asked if he will write a book about it, he said “No, Not till I see one” He was very sure of seeing a revival, because he has been praying for one! If you are serious about a revival, then you will be persistent enough to wait for one!
One thing that you can be very confident about is the fact that we serve a God who always keeps his promises, if he has promised a revival when people pray, he will send it when you pray! Elijah literally put the reputation of God at stake when he declared in front of the whole Israel, the God who answers by fire, he is God!! (1 Kings 18:24) Yes, we serve a God who answers prayers, and most often he answers with fire!
If that truth will sink deep into your spirit, it will not only stir extravagant faith and passion to pray, but also a deep rooted patience and persistence in your prayer for revival! Let praying Elijahs arise! (Jas 5:17) Let undignified Hannas arise! (1 Sam 1:15) Let the persistant Annas arise! (Luk 2:37)
I still remember when ministering in UYF Ambernath God asked us to pray continuously for 3 months. Very frankly speaking, those were dry times, every evening and at times mornings, we will just gather together and pray for an hour and disperse. But God honored our passion and our persistence, we experienced a very powerful move of God for the next 6 months. We used to have meetings without any worship songs or messages yet people would be saved by God and most of them will be facedown in worship! It was just awesome! Had we given up praying even in the last moment we would have missed that move of God.
What are the things that drain your passion to pray and to wait on the Lord for a revival in your life, family, church, or ministry? How do you plan to tackle them?