“Revive me according to Your loving kindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.” Psalm 119:88

Revival

This verse has always meant a lot to me. It has been a powerful prayer!

Many years ago I was in a church service that a friend had invited me to. The pastor was teaching on this passage in Psalm 119 talking about the psalmist’s passion and desire to be right with the Lord. Then the pastor asked who would pray this prayer for revival in their heart and life. I thought I was a Christian, but my life after I prayed this prayer was extremely different. From that day forward, God’s presence and joy has never left me. My life was dramatically changed from darkness into living color! Thirty-some years later, I’m still living in the color and bright light.

Why? His lovingkindness is better than life, how can I not praise Him (Psalm 63:3)! There have been many bumps along the way, but I have been extremely blessed and have never doubted because of the Lord’s obvious hand. I’ve made poor choices, and I have and still do suffer consequences, but this same prayer is applicable today as it was many years ago: Revive me according to Your loving kindness… The Lord is forever faithful!

My heart aches and my prayer is for those who have known this life-changing revival and have walked away. The enemy has certainly ripped them off! I know life stuff happens and choices are made when experiencing much pain and suffering. Conclusions are drawn of how they think God is—but He really isn’t. They develop a hard heart by making continual wrong choices and selfish conclusions. They forget “God works all things for our good” (Philippians 2:13) and “Blessed are those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).

My choice is to continue praying this prayer and making sure I’m walking in His love, reaching out to those still walking in darkness. It’s also very important to remember to pray for them often. Praying Scripture like this Psalm is powerful because we are praying according to God’s Word and we can pray with confidence, knowing we have what we ask (in His time) because we are praying in His Name (John 14:14).

Revival is a continual need in our lives as Christians. It starts with each of us individually and becomes contagious because God’s powerful love can’t be resisted in a needy world. Please continue to pray this with me for yourself and for your loved ones not living in His light for His Name’s sake and His glory. It’s a win-win deal: for God’s glory, our good, and the good of our loved ones!

“Dear Father, help us to continually seek You daily for personal revival, and for revival and salvation in a needy world. Please direct our hearts to Your Word for what to pray and for Your power to change lives for Your glory!! In Jesus’ Name.”