April 29 - Reading 27: Psalms 82-85

“Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?”

(Psalm 85:6)

What a wonderful prayer for revival!

First, it reveals the proper motive in praying for revival — that we would rejoice in Him. Oftentimes, we tend to focus on ourselves instead of Him. We want things to go back to the way they were because our lives felt more predictable and more comfortable.

But that ease of life may have been exactly what got us into trouble in the first place. We may have readily acknowledged the existence of God; we may have even felt we were truly worshiping and honoring Him. But the truth is, we didn’t feel like we really needed Him.

However, with the growing upheaval in our own individual lives as well as the lives of many around the world, we are becoming increasingly aware of our desperate need for Him. And that is exactly what He wants to accomplish, not only in our lives, but in the lives of people around the world.

Secondly, this verse acknowledges that revival comes from God alone, reminding us that only prayer can bring the change we desire. He alone is able to draw wayward hearts back to Him. This truth can help us as we pray over the spiritual condition of our country, as well as the waywardness of those we love.

As we pray for revival, let’s also include the Psalm writer’s additional request: “But let them not turn back to folly” (Psalm 85:8d). What a waste of our fervent prayers if, in the end, people simply return to their selfish, foolish and ungodly ways. Peter talks of this pattern, warning that “the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:20-21). May these truths encourage us to more fervently intercede for revival today.