40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 12: The Conversation of PRAYER - SACRIFICE

To 'fast' is to abstain from something specific for a particular reason. When we fast as Christians, we often do it to develop depth in our relationship with God. By denying our flesh something it craves, we can allow communion with God to satisfy us instead.

Legalism around fasting is pointless, as fasting is never an end to itself but an opportunity for us to put our God of grace first. Nonetheless, fasting can be a great tool for us to use to seek Him, and to set aside something that may be becoming a distraction to our time spent with God in prayer.

In the early church, we see that they fasted and prayed to hear from God and to intercede for Barnabas and Saul (Paul).

It is told that William J. Seymour, leader of the Azusa Street Revival in California in 1906, gathered with a small group of believers regularly to pray and fast to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A few days into the fast and after praying all night, William began to speak in tongues. News of this spread and attracted people from everywhere.

Fasting looks different for each person, with the Holy Spirit at different times asking us to give up different things for a period of time. This could be social media, TV, movies, coffee, sugar etc. Fasting something is humbly saying no to the flesh and yes to the spirit. It should put our focus on God and not the thing we are giving up.

Allow God to prompt you regarding whether He would like you to fast from something for a while. Determine to use the extra time in prayer and in His presence, as we believe for people to come to know Him.

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 11: The Conversation of PRAYER - HOW OFTEN SHOULD WE PRAY?

In Acts 1 Jesus has just ascended to heaven and left the disciples with the instruction to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. While waiting for Jesus' promise, they prayed; they prayed together and they prayed constantly. The disciples knew that they were living in pivotal times and sought God through prayer for what He was about to do.

Meeting in the same place, at the same time with a shared love for God, they were united in belief and their prayers were also. These were a people passionate about spreading the Gospel and they grew quickly in number.

Paul's letters to the early church also upholds the importance of persevering in prayer, with him instructing the church in Thessalonica to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5.17) and again encouraging those in Rome to be 'faithful in prayer'.

As we consider Paul's instructions on prayer today, it would be inconsistent with what he writes about the unmerited nature of God's grace, for us to take them too legalistically. Rather, let us allow Paul's words to encourage us to develop an attitude of prayerfulness that is characterised by persistence and consistency, and that comes from pursuing a personal relationship with God and being in His presence throughout the day.

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 10: The Conversation of PRAYER - WHEN TO PRAY

All of history's great revivals have one attribute in common - people fervently prayed for them. In November 1949 in the Hebrides Islands, two elderly women in their 80's were troubled at the state of their parish - not one young person attended church. These two women were moved to action and decided to pray about it. They met twice a week and prayed from 10pm - 3am. The women invited the church leaders and elders to pray with them. A few weeks later Scottish preacher Duncan Campbell visited the island to preach. During his time on Lewis Island, revival broke out and hundreds of people came to know Christ. On the first day of the revival, 122 young people were saved.

Around the time of our Hillsong album recording last year, our Creative Team made a commitment to pray for the recording every time they brushed their teeth. It wasn't a rule but just something fun the team decided to do to help them remember to pray every day (hopefully twice a day!). Since then, the team has done it for every event in the life of our church.

Is there a daily activity you could use to remind you to pray? Together, let us resolve to pray regularly for God to move in our nation!

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 9: The Conversation of PRAYER - WHY PRAY?

Many people have debated why it is that we pray when God is in absolute control. Whilst these questions are worthwhile, they can over-complicate and overshadow the simple truth that God's Word continually instructs us to pray with faith to God for whom nothing is impossible.

Are there specific things in your life that you are believing God to move miraculously in? Why not make a stand this week that says you believe there is great power in prayer, by gathering two or more of your friends or family to pray with you?

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 8: The Conversation of PRAYER - WHAT CAN WE PRAY FOR?

It is obviously a great privilege for us to pray, bringing our needs and requests before an omnipotent God. Yet amazingly, Jesus has made it possible for us to approach God with confidence and to come before Him boldly. God hears us when we pray and it is His will that prayer would allow us to know Him more and receive His grace.

Perhaps you haven't always prayed with the confidence that 1 John 5:14-15 and Ephesians 3:12 speak of. Consider why that is and allow the truth of God's Word to replace the old mindsets you may have had about prayer.

During this time as we seek God to see a change in our lives and the world around us, let's be united in prayer for:

1. Salvation - for loved ones in our world who are yet to know Jesus.

2. Our city and nation - let's believe for our leaders and authorities to lead with Godly wisdom and counsel.

3. Revival - let's believe together for people to awaken to the things of God and for Him to move mightily across the earth.

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 7: The Conversation of PRAYER - HOW TO PRAY

People often feel overwhelmed when it comes to prayer wondering what to say or pray for. However, there is no formula to prayer. Prayer is simply conversation with God.

As we become more comfortable, we find it easier to speak to God from the depths of our hearts. This 'dailiness' of talking to God can often be consumed with our personal world, but it may also touch on the needs of our larger world - for healing, salvation and justice.

In 'The Lord's Prayer' (Matthew 6) Jesus taught us how to pray, providing a good example for anyone who is starting to build the habit of talking to God daily. It begins with the earnest request that Heaven be established on earth, according to God's will.

During this season, as we pray for God to move miraculously as He has done in the great revivals of history, let us determine to make Jesus' example of prayer our 'true north'- that our prayers reflect heaven's priorities, and that we might be ever submitted to our Father's will.

40 Days of Revival: Lent Day 6: The Conversation of PRAYER - PRAYER - REVIVAL'S PARTNER

There is power in prayer.

Christine Caine, founder of the anti-human trafficking campaign, A21, describes how she prayed for hours while

they were building the stadiums for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, 'I used to sit on the edge where the deep holes were dug to pour in the foundations and my tears would drip into the cement.'

Then the Director for Youth Alive in Sydney, Christine prayed that God's glory would be revealed through the gathering of His people in one place, under one accord, with one heart singing praises to His Name. This site is now Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park, where thousands gather every year under the name of Jesus in Australia's largest annual conference, Hillsong Conference.



In 1904, Wales saw more than 100,000 people come to know Christ in under six months in a revival characterised by prayer, praise, joy, victory and the re-discovery of the Holy Spirit. The leader of this Revival, Evan Roberts, was a man known for his intense, fervent prayer who had believed for over 10 years to see the people of Wales come to know Jesus.

As we continue this study, let's allow God to awaken us to the conversation of prayer. With the example of the early church and great leaders like Evan Roberts inspiring us, let us intercede for our families and friends and believe for the salvation of those who do not yet know Christ.