II Chronicles 7:14 “If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and PRAY, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Although this verse is God’s formula to heal a nation, prayer for revival is a very personal thing.  Revival doesn’t start with a country.   It begins with each individual.  Prayer for revival starts with you and me, not the millions that make up our society.  This Scripture tells us first to humble ourselves and then pray.  If we have humbled ourselves, we will recognize our sin and our wicked contribution to the sad national predicament. 

This prayer is not just a superficial request such as “God bless our nation.”  Or, “Lord revive our nation,” or, “Lord correct the politicians.” It is not a “quickie” prayer either.  

Sometimes our urgent, intense prayer may last for hours.  After recognizing our waywardness, apathy, and coldness toward the Lord we come with a broken heart for our own sin.  We realize that today’s problems result from our complacent satisfaction in just attending church and going through our religious routines.  We have forgotten that we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and let Christ live through us. 

Young’s Concordance defines the Hebrew word (palal) for “pray” in this verse as “to pray – to judge self – to pray habitually.”  It is in the spirit of James 4:9, “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep:  let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” 

Until we are willing to understand the gravity of our national crisis and the significance of our apathy, we will be unable to pray as the Lord requires in this directive.

What is your prayer response to II Chronicles 7:14?  Begin today with a genuine, heartfelt prayer for revival.