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A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. On shigionoth.
Lord, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:1-2 NIV
The prophet Habakkuk’s prayer at the beginning of Habakkuk 3 is a heartfelt prayer for revival. The strange word “shigionoth” indicates that this prayer was originally set to music. At this time, God’s people had forgotten all he had done for them. They were careless in their obedience and distracted by ungodly things all around them. Habakkuk knew the people needed to be reminded and have their commitment rekindled.
Do you ever feel that way?
Habakkuk started by acknowledging the Lord and pointing out God’s deeds. He described himself as being “in awe” of what God had done in the past. He knew where revival would come from – and that it was not going to come from anything he did. Revival isn’t about what we say or do, even if we are saying good or right things. Revival is about what only God can do. And it begins when the believer stops, recognizes the power of God and stands in awe of God’s work.
Part of Habakkuk’s prayer says, “Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known (NIV).” In the King James Version, it says, “Revive thy work in the midst of the years.” Revival means for something to become popular, active, or important again. The prophet was asking God to show the people his power again, right now, today. He knew how God once worked and how his people once responded, and Habakkuk wanted to see that again. He knew how desperate the people were for God, even if they didn’t see it yet. Not because God had stopped being powerful in the past, but because the people had stopped paying attention. Habakkuk longed for God to do a work that was evident to everyone as a work of God.
In Habakkuk, God had been punishing the Chaldeans and his own people, but Habakkuk prayed God would reveal his mercy, instead of giving the people exactly what they deserved.
God is sovereign, but he is willing to listen to the prayers of his people. He tells us that the prayers of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16), and in 2 Chronicles 7:14, we are told, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (NIV).”
This is a blueprint for how we should pray for revival today. Stop, acknowledge God’s greatness and our need for him, ask him to make himself known to the people, and show his power and mercy.
Questions:
- Will you commit to praying for revival?
Kelli Jordan (kellijordan.blog)