Words blazed in my soul this morning with such force that I had to scramble to my feet to find paper. I’d prayed a few minutes earlier out on my front porch for true revival: for such a groundswell of souls saved that we’d have no earthly explanation, and for believers to be flooded by the Holy Spirit in such a way that our souls would be purified with a holy, selfless, unstoppable fervor. I have prayed those kinds of things before but this time I called upon the Lord with my whole heart to rip away this ceiling that seems to be over our heads. The Holy Spirit is moving with breathtaking force in parts of the world and in segments of the church. Why not among all of us?? And why not now? We love Him, too!
So many of our pastors, leaders, evangelists, and teachers are crying out for it. We see glimpses of it. We feel it pressing on the walls of many of our churches. The paint is beginning to crack. We sense a change coming. The roof shifting. We know the sun of righteousness is rising on a different kind of day and the horizon beaming with a new shade of color on young and old, on rich and poor. On all who would let Him lift their chins despite their sins, for our redemption draws near. I feel the stirring of a fresh work of the Holy Spirit in my own congregation and sense that He’s ushering us step-by-step and person-by-person and Sunday-by-Sunday to a place of open-armed willingness for whatever He would give us. For many of us who have felt the breezes of revival stirring, we can’t often define how the Holy Spirit is working or explain the difference between one gathering and the next. All we know is that there are times when we are left to say, “Only God could do that.” We taste it. It’s on the tip of our tongues but our throats are still parched. Our voices may be hoarse and our volume weak but, at the sound of His yes, the mute would find speech.
I cried out this morning for Him to remove the obstacles that hold us at bay on the damp edges of a mighty torrent of revival when, before us, is the deep. We have seen drops of rain but, if we’re willing to be honest, most of us know that we have not yet seen what the living Lord Jesus Christ is capable of doing when He has a mind to pour His Spirit out on millions and wreak the holy havoc of true revival with innumerable souls. We have blamed our government and every secular institution possible when revival has ever remained a matter between God and His own people in the pages of Scripture. They are not our problem. We point fingers at our pastors when many of them have nearly broken their backs trying to drag us to revival. We hold worship leaders responsible for our own small worship and say that it must be the songs.
My heart burns with a sense that part of this ceiling over our heads is our demand that God must bring awakening and revival within our means, keep our rules, and respect our boundaries. If Christ is to do what He longs to do, we must relinquish all our expectations and formulas for revival. Lest we think we can’t leash a work He’s willing to perform, the words of Matthew 13:58 and Mark 6:5-6 won’t peel off the gospel page. We keep getting together and rehearsing for a revival He’s not yet fully attending. Why?? Why does He wait?
I think one reason is that we are afraid for Him to do whatever it would take. We are scared of the uncertainty of revival. We don’t trust God with the work of His own Spirit. He might embarrass us. Or make us change our minds. God won’t work contrary to His Word but many of us must admit that it is not His Word we are worried about Him working contrary to. We are worried about Him working contrary to our tastes. We are worried that He will not use our methods. I said we. I have done the same thing. I want Him to work in a way that makes me feel comfortable. But maybe a true outbreak of revival is not comfortable. I don’t know. I can’t say I’ve ever seen what I believe God may want to do in our day. Meanwhile, numerous gatherings of believers dwindle and die or rust for the sake of routine. Generations are falling away as revival clings to our doorposts. It’s there. It’s close. But why won’t it come on in? We feel it. We hunger for it. Why does it delay? Perhaps there are many reasons why revival waits and we could write more blog articles and list the possible hindrances and deliberate over them and mull over them and debate them and exert more and more energy while we have less and less time.
Or maybe we could say today,
Lord, if Your time is now – and it’s the only time countless millions have – remove the obstacles, whatever they are. Shove them out of the way and COME, Lord Jesus, with a torrential downpour of Your Holy Spirit.
I’m just looking for anyone out there who would be willing to echo a prayer something like this one. I bring it to you in humility, lacking much, wanting much. I do not wish to put words on any tongue detached from a heart. Vocabulary is meaningless without volition. If this is not you and if these sins are not yours and these aches find no place in your soul, you are not who I’m talking to. But this is me and I wondered if it might be anyone else, for where two or three are gathered in His Name, crying out for a cracked-open heaven, that ceiling that we feel shifting over our heads could shatter to our feet. I’m tired of giving God an inch and expecting a mile. I want to go with Him wherever He’s going.
Most glorious all-powerful, merciful God,
Your Son died for more than these. We thank You for what You’ve already done but we beg You to do infinitely more. Look upon this ailing planet, pulsing with the hopeless, helpless, the hiding and the dying. You have willed that people would not die in their sins but be saved and redeemed through Your Son, Jesus Christ. You promised that the Cross was big enough for us all, with stakes pointed northward, southward, eastward, westward, reaching everlasting arms to the ends of the earth. We know what Your Word says You can do and we confess to You that many of us have not yet seen it with our eyes but we feel it stirring in our souls. Hosanna, Lord! Save now!
We who are willing confess to you our sinful arrogance. We have prescribed to You by what means You, the solitary Healer, should heal souls and You have refused to sign Your Name to our prescriptions. We say to You this day, write Your Name across our sky and bring revival! Save by whatever means brings You glory. Bring it any way You like but bring it, Lord. We free You from using our methods. We free You from using our denominational names. We free You from using our buildings though we welcome You to them. We free You even from using us, though we cast ourselves before You at Your complete disposal and beg that You would. Use none of us. Use all of us. Use whatever people and whatever means honors You most but do it, Lord. Please do it!
We confess to You our appalling narcissism in asking You to mirror us. We confess to You our over-sophistication and snobbery. We confess to You that we are terrified of Your Holy Spirit. We confess our pathetic arrogance for having forbidden signs and wonders when there could be no greater sign and wonder than a tidal wave of salvation rolling on our dry banks. Oh, Jesus, that we would not leave You to marvel that You could do so few miracles among us because of our unbelief.
We repent this day for not trusting You with what revival should look like. We repent this day from prioritizing our dignity over Your downpour. We confess to You that we have torn pages from our Bibles and handed them back to You and demanded that You work through what was left. We confess to You this day that the tent pegs of Scripture are vastly wider than our imaginations and our expectations.
Lord, if souls are saved by the thousands of thousands and millions of millions, we pledge to You this day that we will not, in our sectarianism, pick apart the process and reason how it was not legitimate. We are ready even if it’s messy. Even if, atop the beautiful feet carrying the good news, are bruised and broken bodies of willing evangelists.
Open Heaven. Rain down, Holy Spirit. We repent for having asked You to respect our boundaries. We bow now to Your boundless Spirit and make room over our lowered heads for You to fall upon us with power and might and a firestorm of Your great affection. You have loved us so. You have loved us well. Scar our hearts with Your Cross and love through us, Lord. Oh, Holy Spirit of the Living Christ, come without limit. We have known You were able but begged You to be willing. All the while, we have been disabled because we have been unwilling.
To what conceivable degree we could have held them in our hands, we turn the reins of revival back over to the Rider who is Faithful and True and we plead that You would not let them rest on the neck of that great horse but that You’d bid him run.
Whatever, Lord. Do what You want but do it now. Do it here. You have no peer. Make Your name glorious. Save now. We avail ourselves.
O God, I avail myself.
In the holy name of Christ our King. Amen.
Savior, Savior, Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.
I was thrilled to see this posted on FB. Lately, I’ve been lead to pray for revival “like the days of old.” That’s the only words I knew how to pray. The revivals we’ve only read about that lead to so many people being saved and whole communities transformed. God we need that now!
On my way home from work today I had the sudden feeling that everyday I need to get on my knees and plead God for Him to send revival. As confirmation I saw this on FB as soon as I got home and knew God had indeed put that burden in my heart. I have never really prayed for revival before, so, I wanted you to know, Beth, that I’m standing with you in praying for revival.
Yes!!!! I am with you! I was praying the other day, asking Him what He wanted from me for revival. I was so convicted that my heart is not burdened the way it should be for the lost. I had been asking what He wanted me to do so that I could please Him with my actions instead of my heart for the lost. Help me, Lord! Burn in us a desire to see your beloveds come to know you!
I stand with you In heartfelt prayer, revival in hearts and beyond borders.
Sharon, Qld, Australia.
Beth, I received a great blessing and much pleasure reading your blog. I agree that we are putting more time worrying about everything worldly instead of the revival of “lost souls”. My prayer is, as you said, all denominations join together in this effort. Thanks for tshe great message. Aunt Nancy
So glad to hear you put into words our hearts desire. I have felt the Spirit moving in the Northwest but sometimes I want to see more or see it faster. But you are right. I want to see it how I expect to see revival look. Oh that I will be willing to see it accomplished how God has it planned. Give me a willing and humble heart Lord.
Oh, God. This was written yesterday but it fell on my spirit just now like fresh, pure, untouched morning dew.
Hear Beth’s full-hearted prayer and answer. Forgive me for asking You to have boundaries in my prayers for revival; in my own heart and in the hearts of those I may influence for Christ.
“THY Country, ’tis of THEE.” That’s YOU, God. We so often pray for hearts way oversees, but I ask for hearts here in the Heartland of US, The United States. May She be united by Your Holy and Only Spirit and by the Stripes of Your Son.
I echo Beth’s prayer and join my faith with hers.
To be used in the great revival however, wherever, whenever, for whatever would be the greatest honor of my life. Yes, Lord, anytime, anywhere!!! Let’s do this thing, Lord!! The goal of my life is one day stand before my Savior and hear “job well done, good and faithful servant!” Here we go!
Now THAT’s what I’m talking about! AMEN!
This cry is coming from all over the world. The Holy Spirit is putting the same call on our hearts, to pray for the outpouring of Abba’s Spirit over our churches, our communities, our cities, this nation and the world. In our ministry (SpirituallyUnequalMarriage.com) we’re hearing this from many all over the world. God’s heart is with “the many” who’ve yet to come to Him and He’s calling us to the Great Harvest.
This is not how I’ve perceived and prayed in the past so I’ve no doubts this is all God at work, even to a dream He gave me of a tall and massive corn field that stretched far into the distance. He told me, “This is the Great Harvest.”
So astonishing, so exciting, so wonderfully God!!! And we get to be part of it. He is calling out His children, especially His daughters, to step forward and be His presence to the lost. And we are hungry for Him! Nothing we hold onto on this earth compares to standing in the Almighty’s Presence!
Praying with you <3 Thank you for your zeal!! And sharing your heart.
Amen sister, my pastor has been sharing with us that God spoke to him and it is unforgiveness that is holding the church back from doing all that God wants us to do. We need to be on our knees asking and giving forgive so that our heart can be healed and ready for all that the Holy Spirit has for us and the world.
Oh amen Beth. I have been in deep prayer for two years for revival asking for us to be broken to the movement of the Holy Spirit. The rocks His very creation is crying out because we have become complacent. I believe the revival is coming and I think it will be huge and maybe it will usher in His coming. Thank you for these Holy Spirit inspired words. Oh Lord rain down that revival and may it begin in me.
Annette Richmond, Va
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 NIV
I was just praying today as I walked my dog – I prayed for God to use my life, the pitiful thing that it is. I was so struck by my own human frailties and sinfulness, and yet, He wants to use me despite my weaknesses. I have been reading a book by Jennie Allen called Anything. I’ve prayed my Anything prayer – whatever you want Lord, despite my lack, despite my weakness, despite, quite plainly, being a wimp. Oh God, that You would break us free from our fears, and our uncertainties and our comfort zones and show us the wonder, the glory, the adventure of laying it all down at Your feet, of pressing in clos to You. I say I believe God created the entire world in 7 days – if I really believe that, why can’t I trust Him with everything?
Betty, Loma Linda
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34,35 NIV
Thank you, Beth.
Yes, Lord Jesus … do your thing! Amen and Amen.
I agree. Lord, rain down Your Reign!
Oh Lord take over our schedules and do what you only can do! I agree that we have been asking for revival on our own terms! Shake things up and have you way oh Lord!
I am printing out this prayer and will be praying it every day until He leads me to do otherwise. Thank you, Ms. Beth, for the continual impact you have in my life!
Hey. Just wanted you to know that I’m a man. My wife sent me in here to read your blog today- out loud- we prayed it together.
For years now we have been praying for revival here. Every Sunday evening we pray. Sometimes I have been the only one that showed up to pray. I have had to pray outside our locked church.
But in our community we have begun to see some fantastic glimpses of what seems to be just around the corner.
There is a country song out there that says something like, “I don’t see any storm clouds, but I sure can smell the rain.”
Keep praying sister. God will answer our prayers. Thank you for your eager tongue- excited to proclaim His truth.
My Lord, and my God. May our cries be a sweet sound unto Your ears as your people turn their faces upward. See us Father and fall heavy, all to your glory. I humble myself confessing the sins of my teacher Beth as my own. I also want to say what you already know-I am afraid. You are not safe but You are good. And just. And merciful. And righteous. And I have not other choice but to follow you. I love you, Lord. Amen.
Amen and Amen. How I agree with you Beth. May we at Siestaville join in your prayer. Thank you for sharing your heart and desire for Revival. There may be many like me who cannot put it into words as beautifully, but our spirits are joined together in a desire for Revival. May the Lord Jesus hear our plea and pour down his Spirit in a way that is immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
I am praying this prayer with you every day. I am grateful for your willingness to be used.
I have been feeling like a revival is in the works. I’m overwhelmed by this post of yours. I see new church plants popping up all over with believers wanting to do church differently… people coming to know Jesus who haven’t before. Joining you in this prayer. Lord come!!! And don’t let me get in the way!
Beth, My heart is so full…my mouth cannot speak…I do not know what to pray because my spirit is overwhelmed…I can only lay at the feet of my Lord because I know that He will hear the groans within me…thank you…thank you Jesus.
This has been what my heart has been groaning and aching about for quite some time. Thank you for sharing.
Dear Beth and LPM sisters~
Yes! Praying with you. Have been praying for God’s Word and Spirit to roll across the lands like a tidal wave.
Thank you Beth for putting into words even more clearly what God has been teaching me about ways I limit (rather, TRY to limit) the boundaries of His work.
Rain down, Lord. Reign.
A.M.E.N.
and amen.
On this birthday of our nation I pray for God’s mercy to our land, I pray for His people to rise up and let their light shine in a dark world, I pray for the enemy to lose his foothold and I pray for the lost to be drawn to salvation thru Jesus Christ. And I join with all of you to pray for revival to rain down on us!
Happy July 4th!
AMEN AND AMEN!
Thank you Beth and AMEN! Praying the same with you.
No man can create what God will do but oh please won’t man imagine what God will do and create that?
I’m so sorry. I’m so skeptical. I love the Lord. I do. I don’t want to have an unbelieving heart. I do. I don’t want to though.
The power of God is the heart of God to love us. To see us and love us. Lord help me to see people who will be seen and love them. And to receive the same. To let you heal me. To not let my heart harden but to turn to you with newness today.
And that my friends is my prayer and hope for revival. I’m poor and and naked and I want to let the Lord give me the wealth and the clothing I need. I want to trust you without with holding. See the heart that wants to be pure and purify it.
I’m scared. But I’m more scared to not respond. Really respond.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS WONDERFUL BOOK FOR MY GRANDAUGHTER, SHE IS 13 YRS OLD AND WILL SOON TURN 14. SHE SUFFERS GREATLY WITH INSECURITIES AS WELL AS MOST YOUNG TEENS HER AGE. I ALSO THINK THAT THE COVER ON THE BOOK WILL GIVE HER A BOOST HER SELF-ESTEEM. THE YOUNG LADY OF COLOR IS ABOUT MY GRANDAUGHTER’S COMPLEXION AND WE RARELY SEE THAT ON A BOOKCOVER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
Oh Beth!!! I have been praying something similar to this for some time now and just prayed a little longer than usual this very morning(as we celebrate Independence Day) for Americans to get back on their knees in deep repentance returning to their FIRST LOVE before it’s too late. Thank you for echoing that prayer in this post on July 2nd!!!!!
I’ve felt this stirring so strongly recently, too, Beth. I felt an unsettledness in my heart knowing how i am shortchanging His Spirit. In my small study group, we’ve prayed these very things for our own hearts saying, “Let it begin with me.” Revival, that is. I recognize that I am the problem, the “ceiling” you speak of. I want His outpouring, but in my own life, I put the limitations on it. Don’t make me look like a crazy woman, Lord…But this is not the surrender He’s looking for.
Thank you for putting words to this yearning. I’m on my knees with you.
Yes LORD do it. Open our eyes LORD, tender our hearts, jump start our hearts with Your powerful Holy Spirit. So many of us are ready and willing we call out as one open the floodgates of heaven. A Mighty outpouring of the One we adore. Shake us up Father we want the nations to see not only the revival in me but a revival of You like none other. Yes to Your yes. In Jesus name I join this prayer with all the others wanting Life in You. Amen
Yes! This has been the heart of the prayers of my husband and me over the past ten days, although our focus has been on our individual family rather than on widespread revival. I needed to read this to be convicted of my limited vision.
I am printing this post and will be joining in and echoing this prayer.
Amen and Amen! May we be like Gideon and prepare our OFFERING SACRIFICIALLY and present it without strings and obey to pour it all out in whatever way HE DIRECTS to HIS GREAT LEADING and may HE BRING THE FIRE of HIS SPIRIT on our little bit! May we come to KNOW HIM in the process and experience REVIVAL and bring HIS TRUTH: THE FATHER Prepared His Son JESUS CHRIST as our LAMB and brought forth HIS COVENANT ARK, poured forth HIS BLOOD on our behalf and Jesus our HIGH PRIEST presented HIS BLOOD at the MERCY SEAT… HE GAVE ALL FOR US! May we give all for HIM, FOR FOR HIS GLORY and SALVATION TO REIGN! He is CREATOR KING, SOVEREIGN AND GLORIOUS, FATHER AND SAVIOR, PERFECT AND HOLY, IMMEASURABLE GRACE AND MERCY! HOSANNA! Save NOW LORD, please!
Amen!! I keep seeing a huge movement in the hearts of people around me. It feels like something is starting to happen and it’s thrilling.
Much love to you Mama Beth!
So powerful…so annointed. Praying in agreement with you Mama Beth.
Soak us to the soul Lord Jesus. Break through the clouds of darkness that blind eyes and harden hearts and let your healing waters flow into hearts that are parched and thirsty. May the dry and cracked land be a desert no more. But a river flowing with living water. May the sound of the sweet rain of your spirit be music to the ears that need to hear. May the rain fall on fertile ground where new life can burst through. Come Lord Jesus, come.
from a pastor’s wife…AMEN…HALLELUJAH…PRAISE GOD!!!!!
Jesus, I agree with each and every word spoken and prayed here. “We thank You for what You’ve already done but we beg You to do infinitely more.” Lord, crack open this heart of mine for an awakening revival that starts right here in me, in my home, in my neighborhood, in my inch of the world. I am Yours.
Yes, Lord, rain down on us. Send revival. Thank you, Beth. I stand in agreement.
Yes Lord
OH, yes. DO it Lord Jesus. Come quickly.
I long for revival in his church and in our nation, but I think it starts right within my very own heart and life. I have been doing a lot of searching and know that I need revival in my own personal life. In my quiet time this more, I confessed that was what I wanted but I am afraid. Afraid of what God might ask me to do. Afraid that I may not be able to do what God might ask me to do. Afraid to accept that what God asks me to do, he equips me to do. Afraid to admit that although I have said I have trusted and relied on God all these years that really I have trusted and relied on God in circumstances in which I feel I have control. Releasing it all to him scares the socks off me, but I know I have to. I know releasing it all to him will be the only way he will use me for which he created me. Releasing it all to him will mean that the good stuff I do will be replaced with the great stuff only God can do through me. Yes, yes, I join in playing for revival, but I pray that begins in my heart and life.
Praying with you! Praying for the flood gates of heaven to open and for His people to humble themselves, pray and turn from their wicked ways so that He can heal our land! Let it begin with me Lord!!
LORD revive me, revive every heart. Shake what needs to be shaken!
Praying with you, dear sister!
AMEN & AMEN!
Amen! Thank you for this post. It stirs my heart.