“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

  - 2 Chronicles 7.14

O Father, O Son, O Holy Spirit, forgive me my sins. O only-begotten Son of the heavenly Father, forgive. O one God, O true God, O chief God, O God of one substance, O God only mighty, in three Persons, truly pitiful, forgive. O God the rewarder, forgiving, loving, pre-eminent, immense, vast, mysterious, forgive.

  - Litany of Confession, Irish, 15th century with roots in Clonmacnoise

In 1746, when it seemed that the fires of the Great Awakening had died down, Jonathan Edwards wrote a book calling the churches of New England and elsewhere to seek the Lord for revival. Edwards had experienced seasons of revival during his ministry in Northampton, MA, and he longed to see God’s Spirit active and moving among His people once again.

The title of Edwards’ book is instructive, and I quote it in full: An Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of All God's People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ's Kingdom on Earth, Pursuant to Scripture Promises and Prophesies.

Let’s look at this back to front. Scripture does promise and even foretell that God will revive His people and make them a powerful force for good in the earth in these last days (cf. Mic. 4.1-8). Many of the Psalms point to a day of widespread blessing and fruitfulness, as nations come to faith in the Lord (cf. Pss. 67, 72, 85). The prophets Daniel and Isaiah looked forward to the day when the Kingdom of God would expand and increase over all the earth (Dan. 2.44, 45; Is. 9.6, 7). Christ taught us to seek His Kingdom and to expect its advancement, even in the face of stiff opposition (Matt. 6.33; Matt. 13). The first Christians turned their world rightside-up for Jesus, and gave us ever good reason to expect that we should see such widespread blessing and restoration in every generation (Acts 17.1-9).

But the coming of Christ’s rule on earth as it is in heaven doesn’t just happen. We must pray (Matt. 6.10) – agreeing on the need for revival, uniting with Christians of all denominations and levels of maturity, gathering at extraordinary times and staying on task at such times until the Lord grants what He has promised and commanded us to seek.

Edwards based his argument on Zecharaiah 8.20-22:

“Thus says the LORD of hosts:
‘Peoples shall yet come,
Inhabitants of many cities;
The inhabitants of one cityshall go to another, saying,
“Let us continue to go and pray before the LORD,
And seek the LORD of hosts.
I myself will go also.”
Yes, many peoples and strong nations
Shall come to seek the LORDof hosts in Jerusalem,
And to pray before the LORD.’”

Edwards’ book has been instrumental since 1746 in calling believers to unite in earnest, ongoing prayers for revival and renewal. His message, following that of God in 2 Chronicles 7.14, needs to be heard in our day as well. God has promised revival. He has sent revival. He calls us to seek Him for revival. All this is beyond dispute.

The one remaining condition:

If. “…if My people...”

Will His people seek Him for revival?

Are you one of His people? Do you sense the need for revival, for a widespread awakening of the world to faith in Jesus Christ? Do you long to see revival, beginning in your own soul? Do you believe Christ can bring it? That His Kingdom can advance, and the whole world be sown with the truth of the Gospel? That nations will stream up to the House of God when they see its holiness and experience its loveliness, looking for instruction from the Word of God?

Do you believe it can happen? It will not happen unless we pray. Unless you pray. You. Not just me or your pastor. You. You and your friends, regularly, earnestly, at extraordinary times, giving God no rest until He grants what He has promised, and makes His Church a joy in the earth once again (Is. 62.6, 7).

Revival can come, friends. Believe it! God has mightily awakened the world in the past, and He can do so again. But He will begin this work in us, as we seek Him in prayer, and persist in prayer until He brings healing to the world. Join us. Pray.

Psalm 85.4-9 (Lyons: O Worship the King)
Restore us, O God, renew us in peace,
And cause all Your wrath against us to cease.
Will You evermore all Your wrath to us show?
Revive us that we may Your joy again know.

Lord, show us Your love; restore us, we pray!
And help us to hear the words that You say.
Speak peace to Your people; in truth let us stand.
We fear You; let glory and grace fill our land.

Lord, make me willing to pray, and repent, and seek You more earnestly than ever.

Your gifts help to support this ministry. God supplies our needs, and He may be pleased to do so, at least in part, through you. Please seek Him in prayer concerning this matter. You can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction VT 05452.

Praying for Revival?
Are you praying for revival? Would you like some help getting started? Our new PDF book, Give Him No Rest, provides 28 morning and evening readings, meditations, and prayer prompts to get you started praying daily for revival. The book is based on excerpts from writings by Jonathan Edwards, and is free for the asking. Simply send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and ask for Give Him No Rest. To learn how to start a revival prayer group of your own, order a copy of our book, Restore Us! Here you’ll find the rationale for seeking the Lord for revival, simple steps for getting started, and twelve psalms, set up to guide you in praying for revival. Order your copy by clicking here.

The Disciplined Life
We’re happy to send you the seven studies in our ReVision series on The Disciplined Life. Learn the disciplines to exercise you for godliness in your spiritual life, relationships, work, and more. The studies are free, and set up for individual or group study, one lesson per day for seven weeks. Just send us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and we’ll send the series along for you.

T. M. Moore
Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.