Let’s first look at Isaiah: “For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones’” (Isaiah 57:15). When we want revival, the first thing we need to do is an attitude check. When we pray and ask for revival, are we contrite and humble? Contrite means to be crushed as into powder and humble means to be lowly. Are our spirits crushed over our sin and humble before God and Man? If so, we are prepared to ask God for revival within our spirits.
The prophet Ezra was humble and contrite over the sin of his people, and he prayed for revival amid their struggles in captivity. “And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage” (Ezra 9:8).
Once our attitudes are right for revival, what do we add next? The Word! The Psalmist shows us the entire remedy: “My soul clings to the dust (contrite and humble), revive me according to Your word (the Bible)” (Psalm 119:25, italics added). It is His Word that will point our hearts ever closer to Him, that will spark revival in us when we seek Him. “Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:154). To truly experience revival, we must seek the Lord in the right attitude, through prayer, while spending time in the Bible. Here are a few more passages that can point us to revival: Jeremiah 29:12-14; 2 Chronicles 7:14-15; Joel 2:12-17.
