Perhaps the clearest view of spiritual awakening can be seen by looking carefully into the Old Testament. The nation of Israel was called by God to make a difference…called to be a light to the Gentiles. We see Israel under the leadership of Moses or David, living a lifestyle that caused them to be set apart from the people around them. They worship God; they hold on to His Word; they do what God wants them to do. Then, we see Israel begin to slide. They move farther and farther away from obedience to the Word of God. Israel begins to accept idolatry, pagan practices and eventually times of war and even slavery. Thankfully, at this point of decline, a small remnant of people begins to pray. They cry out to God, asking the Lord to save them. Then, in His timing, God sends a leader for Israel and spiritual awakening returns. Israel begins again. Once again, they hold onto the Word of God. Once again, they experience times of national prosperity, spiritual excitement, and religious significance.
We see this same pattern of awakening and decline in the history of the American church. Within the United States, we have experienced three times of national revival and spiritual blessing, known as the Great Awakenings. These were the times when our hearts became thirsty enough to welcome the power of God – the power that first purified us, and then ignited us to lives of impassioned worship and service. We changed, the church changed and society changed.
Could you take the next few moments and become a part of the remnant of people who rises up and begins to pray?
Begin to pray:
Prayers of Thanksgiving
- We are grateful, Lord Jesus, that when we gather in Your name, You Yourself are present in a very special way in our midst. We celebrate Your faithfulness, God, for granting periodic times of special blessing in which Your presence is made manifest and Your people are drawn back to You, resulting in a changed society.
Prayers of Confession
- Sunday after Sunday we go through the motions without crying out to God and a real awareness of Jesus actually being there with us. Forgive us, Lord, for ignoring You and rejecting Your presence. We are more comfortable being self-centered rather than being Christ-centered. Jesus, change our focus.
Prayers of Petition
- We wish to walk in the Spirit and thus be continually conscious of Christ in us. Lord Jesus, please show up at church so that Your love and life will be lived out in fresh new ways as Your Body gathers. Awaken us again, do it again in our day. Lord, this is what You have done and is what we want You to do in our life and in our nation.
Promises to Claim
- Jesus, as we gather in Your name, we trust Your presence, for “where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 18:20) Father, allow us to experience the “fullness of Christ in us, the hope of glory.” (Col. 1:27)
Adapted from Praying for Revival and Personal Revival, by Dave Butts
