Have you ever longed for a revival, where the Lord moves in people’s hearts and revives their faith and walk with Him? That’s what happened in the Hebridean Revivals of 1949 and 1950, which were characterized by prayer and confession.

On the Hebrides Islands, just off the West Coast of Scotland, Peggy and Christine Smith were both in their 80’s and were blind or suffering from arthritis. They could only stay at home and pray for revival. They held on to the promise from Isaiah 44:3 – “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”

At the same time, a group of young men were praying in a barn and were being led and convicted by Psalm 24:3-4: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.”

Through conviction of sin leading to confession, and the faithful prayers of people seeking revival, God moved through the Hebrides Islands in a miraculous and amazing way. Many people turned from the sins and gave their lives to Jesus to follow him. Many other people who were already Christians were renewed and revived in their faith as they were like the thirsty land on which the Lord poured his water and his Spirit.

Prayer played a similar role in in 1727, in Moravia (Europe). There, a group of young people with an average age of about 30, covenanted to pray and labor for revival. First the Lord brought the group to a point of revival and then the group began a 24/7 prayer movement that lasted for 100 years! Sixty-five years after the prayer movement began, this small Moravian community had sent 300 missionaries around the world. It was a 100-year prayer meeting which sustained and flamed the fires of global evangelism.

I believe that prayer is something that God uses as a way for us to give praise and honor to Him. It is a way to confess our sins, to offer him thanks, and to intercede for the needs of others.

We can come boldly before the throne of God with our confessions and intercessions because we have Jesus as our High Priest to lead us into God’s throne room. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16

I am humbled that the God of the Universe allows us to approach His throne with confidence through Jesus. I am humbled that God uses me and each of us to intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for those who are not yet followers of Jesus. I am humbled that God uses the confessions of His people to bring about revival and to spread His kingdom. Pray along with me. Begin with giving glory and honor to the Lord – daily. Try to make this a regular practice along with regular confession.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” – James 5:16

Pray along with me.