Daily EncouragementSample

This plea for revival recognizes that its origin must be God himself. “There is a Divine mystery about Revivals. God’s sovereignty is in them,” said Alexander Whyte. The subjects of revival are the people of God, and the end of revival is not just that they should rejoice but that they should rejoice in him. The supreme characteristic of true revival is that God is glorified through it. The activity of God in the past stirs us to pray for revival today: “you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people . . . Restore us again” (verses 1-4). The Psalmist looked back, and so can we. We are not to live in the past, but to remind ourselves of what God did in former days is a healthy exercise. To pray for revival believingly is to do so with expectation. “Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land” (verse 9). It is to share the Psalmist’s vision and his hope: “Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good” (verse 10-12). What encouragement that is to pray for revival!