A Prayer for God to Start a Revival in You
By Christine F. Perry
Bible Reading
"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25 NKJV
Listen or Read Below:
Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? Has it ever made you feel better? I think it’s safe to say we have all been there at one time or another; it may have felt good at first, but after a while, it gets old.
You may be wondering how feeling sorry for yourself and Proverbs 11:25 relate to revival. Nothing halts your walk with the Lord like self-pity. Yet, humility and service fuel it like nothing else. Why? Because this is what Jesus did. Look at His example:
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Jesus’ life was marked by peace, joy, and contentment. God the Father used His life to turn the world upside down. How much more of a revival could there be than that?
If you’re praying for revival to start in you, we’d be wise to heed the words of A.W. Tozer:
In every Christian’s heart, there is a cross and a throne, and the Christian is on the throne till he puts himself on the cross. If he refuses the cross, he remains on the throne. Perhaps this is at the bottom of the backsliding and worldliness among gospel believers today. We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king within the little kingdom of Mansoul and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar, but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility.
Christ must reign supreme if revival is to happen in our hearts. Our lives were designed for Him and to give Him the praise, honor, and glory due to His name and His name alone. If we want revival, our prayer must be, “Lord, let me do the dying.”
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are the maker of heaven and earth. You’re over every throne and dominion. Father, we ask that You take Your rightful place in our hearts and minds. Give us a clearer picture of who You are so that we can serve and love You better.
Lord, we ask that You would increase and we would decrease (John 3:30). We ask that You take center stage in the life You have given to us. We pray that You would grow the fruits of the Spirit in our lives so that we can be more loving, joyful, peaceable, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. Lord, apart from You we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with You, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).
Father, please help our lives to reflect You. Help revive us so we can rejoice in You again (Psalm 85:6). We love You. We need You. Please help us to be the people You want us to be.
Amen!
Go Deeper: Calm Anxiety and Overwhelm through Time with Christ
What happens when grief, stress, distraction, and emotional exhaustion leave you feeling spiritually numb?
In this episode of the Faith Over Fear podcast, Jennifer Slattery talks with pastor and author Tara Beth Leach about how daily connection with Christ helps us remain grounded during overwhelming seasons. Tara shares the deeply personal story behind her book, The Great Morning Revolution, including the grief of losing her father, caring for her mother through dementia, leaving ministry in California, and the spiritual awakening God brought through that difficult wilderness season. If this episode helps you face fear with God's confidence, be sure to follow Faith Over Fear on Apple or Spotify so you get new episodes every week!
Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
Want More Encouragement for Your Day?
Story Behind is a Christian podcast sharing true stories of God at work in the lives of ordinary people: from answered prayers and unexpected miracles to everyday heroes, extraordinary courage, and the good news happening in our world today.
Each episode goes beyond the headlines to uncover the remarkable people, moments, and circumstances behind these stories. Discover how God is moving through people, families, and communities, and find hope in the places you might least expect it.
Originally published Saturday, 24 October 2026.
SHARE
