Why Do We Pray For Revival?

Nancy had mentioned earlier that several churches met together each night last week for prayer. We met in a different church each evening; spent some time in worship, praying over various themes (government, economy, families, church unity, revival, etc.), and concluded each evening by having the members of the host church coming to the front and everyone else praying for that congregation. The final evening was a 24 hour worship and prayer time. It went from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Saturday. Several people we know made it the full 24 hours and they said it was a very blessed event. The entire week was great and everyone felt blessed by it.

During the week, however, as we were praying I felt the Lord say to me, "Mike, why are you praying for revival? What is the motive behind your prayers?" I was then reminded of James 4:2-3 which says, "... you do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives..."

Is it possible that we could be praying for revival for selfish reasons? Could it be that we want to see revival come because if people get saved there would be less alcoholism, drug problems, prostitution and pornography, crime, etc. And our life would be easier- we would not have to look at those things or deal with them any more? If the presence of God comes into a city we wouldn't have to put up with laws that go contrary to the Word of God, and we could worship and live without the possible threat of persecution. Could it be we want revival because our churches would grow and it would make us look successful? Or maybe we want to see revival come because just being in the Presence of God makes us feel good- like Peter on the mount of Transfiguration wanting to build tents so he could remain there in God's Presence (Mark 9:5-6).

But, do you remember what awaited Jesus, Peter, James and John when they came down from the mountain? A father, whose son was demon-possessed, had brought his son to the disciples (those who were not with Jesus on the mountain) but they could not deliver the boy from the bondage he was in. However, when Jesus came he immediately set the boy free. The difference, I believe, was time spent with God on the mountain. The time on the mountain in God's Presence prepared them for the need that they faced in the valley.

We do need to seek God, spend time in His Presence, have our "mountaintop experiences", and pray for revival. However, if we do this only for our benefit, we are doing it for the wrong reasons. There are people in our families, jobs, neighborhoods who are in bondage and need to be set free. Our purpose for seeking revival, then is to spend time in God's Presence so that we can be prepared, energized and "revived" in order to minister to those needs: to take what we experience on the mountain and use it to minister to the people in the valleys.

Could it be that we are not seeing revival come because we are not praying for the right reason? If we are not praying with the lost in mind, with a desire to see them saved and set free from the bondage of sin, and with a love for them that compels us to do whatever it takes to share God's love and power with them, then we are praying for the wrong reason.

Lord, send revival; but let it be a reawakening of Your love in our heart for the lost!