REVIVAL: What would it look like?

updated 11/2/23 by Fouzia Shibley

When you pray for revival, what are you expecting? What happened in earlier revivals? What did they experience? What was the common pattern among past awakenings?

I became a Christian during the Jesus movement revival in the 70s. Here are a few of my observations:

• passionate desire to go to church [people were eager with anticipation to get to church, excited to be with God's people]

• willingness to express their worship to the Lord by singing and praising freely

• hunger to learn God's word and apply it

• quick and instant repentance as the Holy Spirit convicted them of sin

• desire to reconcile with brothers and sisters in Christ

• awed by God's mercy, quick to forgive others and accepted the Lord's forgiveness

• sought ways to do acts of kindness and gave generously

• possessed a childlike faith, as they prayed for others' needs

• eager to share the gospel and newfound faith with others, unafraid of the possible rejection

• feeling of newness, a first love, a fresh start

• needed the fellowship with other believers and made time for it

• conviction of habits that needed to stop and supernatural ability to turn from them

What about you? What do you think revival would look like? Have you experienced a personal revival? What changed? Have you studied revivals? What were recurring themes? Comment on this post so others can learn together. See below for ideas from a list developed by several Christian groups.

What would revival look like? "Awed by God's mercy, quick to forgive others and accept the Lord's forgiveness."

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According to America’s National Prayer Committee in partnership with OneCry and the Awakening America Alliance, below are a few of the signs a revival is evident:

• more testimonies of the manifest presence of God

• increased conversions and baptisms

• greater participation in corporate as well as individual prayer, fasting, and other spiritual disciplines leading to more effective discipleship.

• decrease in divorces and renewed commitment to marriage between a man and a woman in covenant relationship as God intends.

• desire to impart faith to children and youth as parents are equipped by the church to disciple their children.

• passion in churches to pursue for the well-being of their cities through the planting of new congregations, benevolent ministries, practical service, and focused evangelism.

• commitment to radical generosity as evidenced by compassion ministries and global missions.

• better health among ministers as evidenced by their joy, decreased resignations, healthy loving relationships within their families, and an increased response among young people called to the ministry.

• involvement by believers with a bold witness accompanied by miracles, dramatic conversions, and Holy Spirit empowered victories over evil

• heightened expressions of love and unity among all believers, as demonstrated by the unity of pastors and leaders.

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