What is Revival?

“And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us as a remnant to escape, and give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage, but He extended mercy to us…to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.” Ezra 9:8-9

Father, we thank You for Your grace and for leading us to the way of escape into Your holy place.  Thank You for enlightening our eyes and giving us a measure of revival.  Lord, we ask that Deeper Still would be used to repair the broken and rebuild the ruins.  May You use Deeper Still to construct a strong wall of revival in the hearts of post-abortive men and women.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

Being from the Northern US, the term “revival” was unfamiliar to me…until I moved to the South. 

It seemed as if the moment my foot stepped on Southern soil, I heard the word “revival”.  It was puzzling to me.  What is revival?  Why do we need it? 

I took four years of Latin in high school, and although I couldn’t tell you how to conjugate Latin verbs, I do remember that “viva” means “alive” or “living”.  “Re” is an English prefix meaning “again”. So, a “revival” literally means “to come alive again”.

Deeper Still Team Member, Deborah Corley, summed “revival” up best in these quotes she recently used at a prayer meeting for Deeper Still. 

"Revival awakens in our hearts an increased awareness of the presence of God, a new love for God, a new hatred of sin and a hunger for His word." Del Fehsenfeld

"Revival is that strange and sovereign work of God in which he visits His own people- re-storing, re-animating, and releasing them into the fullness of His blessing." Stephen Olford

"Revival is not some emotion or worked up excitement; it is rather an invasion from heaven which brings to man a conscious awareness of God." Stephen Olford

This Northern girl may finally be getting what “revival” is all about.  Revival isn’t about a meeting or a tent or an event at church.  It is about constantly keeping our hearts in tune to the heart of God and allowing Him to stir up His love in us. 

My prayer for each of you today is that you will experience a personal revival and encounter with the Lord today. 

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for Deeper Still.