‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.’ (v1) Psalm 51
As we conclude our journey looking at the seeds for revival, there are three essential strands that emerge which Scripture commands us to practice. The first essential is prayer. Such prayer has two core components and these are clearly expressed in King David’s great prayer. They are repentance and request.
Every time we approach God, make confession and repent, within moments we stand in need of forgiveness again. Our lives are characterised by the fracture of sinfulness.
Whilst our standing with God is changed the instant we surrender our lives to Jesus, the shadow of our corruption continues to accompany us through life. Perhaps the greatest sin of all is human pride, which attempts to hold its own before God.
Pride is always our attempt to draw attention to ourselves and our accomplishments when we could learn from the Holy Spirit, Who only and always points to Jesus. Repentance is the prayer that recognises our total dependence upon God. Without God I have nothing and I am nobody.
Once I recognise that all things hold together in God alone, then I recognise that there is only one influential and reliable source to whom I can make my requests. If we are serious about seeing God revive His people and this nation then our prayer must be committed, consistent and compassionate.
Related Scripture to Consider: Hab. 3:2 & 16–18; Luke 11:5–12; Philip. 4:4–9; Col. 1:15–23.
An Action to Take: Make a plan for yourself that ensures you are consistent, committed and compassionate in prayer.
A Prayer to Make: ‘Lord, have mercy on me. May my eyes be focussed on You as I pray Your will be done on earth. Amen.’
Photo by Rawpixel Ltd. on Depositphotos
