An individual’s need for Christian fellowship in a local church is vital.
In that fellowship the worship, preaching of the Word, and mission is effort crucial for the believer’s quest to be more like Jesus.
Yet, a most important discipline for our spiritual growth is a personal, daily devotion.
It is in this ‘secret place’ of private prayer, worship and Word that our Father both sees, hears, and ultimately rewards us (cf. Matthew 6:6).
There are times in our daily pursuit when we just don’t know where to begin. Other times there is a personal urgency that needs to be fulfilled, but it is difficult to know how to start.
A Heart for Revival is a 21-day prayer guide designed to quicken your spirit and focus your heart regarding personal and community revival.
(I’ll be sharing devotions from it each Tuesday for the next several months — though, if you’d rather enjoy them in a daily format, the eBook or PDF versions are available here for download.)
My hope is to work with the Holy Spirit in creating a spiritual environment conducive for personal change. It is drawn from the inspiration of the Scriptures, well-known commentators, some personal insights, and was birthed out of the classic book by Leonard Ravenhill entitled Revival Praying—a book I would highly recommend.
This is not a devotional series that promotes a black-and-white-formula for church growth; rather, it is offered as an instrument for the Spirit to speak clearly to those who spend time in prayer.
To get the most of these posts, take time to read the Scripture slowly and allow the Word to settle deep into your spirit; read the commentary thoughtfully and openly; and note your thoughts, feelings, and inspiration.
Sometimes those highlights may be the written words themselves, or a personal response to the reading; other times, it will be a new word—a personal word—birthed through this time with Him.
May you have some very special times with Him as you study A Heart for Revival!
Week #1 — Able and Willing
“Ours is the hour for men of faith. In the Old Testament the three Hebrew children had a defiant faith. They cried, ‘Our God…is able to deliver us for the burning fiery furnace.’ Of God’s ability they had no doubt, though of His plan they were not quite sure. As a matter of fact God did not choose to deliver them from the furnace but init.” Their faith, however, had gone beyond getting into the fire. They said, ‘Our God…is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, but if not, be it know unto thee, O king, that we will not…serve they gods nor worship the golden image.’ Their faith believed when it could not see.”
— Leonard Ravenhill, Revival Praying (p. 27)
Uniting the text with Ravenhill’s quote are words from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians (1:3 ESV), “remembering before our God and Father your work of faith (emphasis mine) and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” For the apostle that ‘work of faith’ produces both a love in the heart of the believer and patience in persecution; Ravenhill’s illustration of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emphasizes “faith’s work.” Yet, in Revival Praying he adds that prayer is faith operating. “Often we hear the prayer, ‘Lord, Thou art able to do this.’ That prayer is very good and may build up the confidence in the pray-er. But—and this is important—to say ‘God is able’ is not faith’” (page 28).
The faith point Ravenhill makes is to not limit God to being able to move in response to one’s request; rather, we must pray in faith that God will respond to our petition. In the raising of Lazarus, Mary and Martha both knew the Lord was able to ‘heal’ their brother—one before he died (Mary, cf. John 11:32) and one on the day of resurrection (Martha, cf. John 11:24), but neither had the faith that Jesus would do it now.
Prayer Focus
As you pray for revival this week, exercise your faith above God being able to move on the hearts of men, but know that He will. Pray Matthew 18:14, “So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” and “…Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:22-24 KJV).
