Pray for Revival

Revival brings times of refreshing. It’s when God stirs us, fires us up, and turns hearts back to Him. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah shows us what it looks like to pray for revival. There are three things we need to pray for: the Word, the Fire, and the Rain.

1. Pray for the Word

“After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: ‘Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.’”
—1 Kings 18:1

Those three years of waiting weren’t wasted. God used that time to prepare Elijah—teaching him about His provision, His power, and even raising the dead.

In this passage, we meet Obadiah. Some call him a coward because he didn’t confront Ahab like Elijah. But Scripture calls him a devout believer in the LORD.

Here’s the truth: you’re not called to be Elijah or John the Baptist. You’re called to be who God made you to be.

Obadiah used his position to hide and feed 100 prophets when no one else had food. That was his assignment. Just like Daniel, Nehemiah, or Joseph, God had placed him strategically.

Christian—your workplace isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. Be the best employee. Respect your leaders. Shine where you are. And when the time is right, speak about the hope you have in Christ.

2. Pray for the Fire

When Elijah faced the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, it was a showdown. But Elijah knew he wasn’t alone.

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
—1 Kings 18:21

The people were silent because they wanted one foot in the world and one foot in the church. But God calls us to make a choice. No one can serve two masters.

Elijah rebuilt the altar, placed the offering, and poured water—Israel’s most prized possession in a drought—onto the sacrifice. When he prayed, fire fell from heaven and consumed it all.

That same fire points us to Jesus. The fire fell on Him—the once-for-all sacrifice—so the fire of the Spirit could fall on us.

For the fire to fall today, we must rebuild the altar of prayer, surrender our possessions, and create space where only God can show up. Revival doesn’t happen through business as usual. It happens when we go all in.

3. Pray for the Rain

“Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.’”
—1 Kings 18:41

Elijah heard God’s promise before anyone else could see it. He bent low in prayer, face between his knees, like a woman in labor about to give birth. Seven times his servant saw nothing. On the seventh, he saw a cloud the size of a man’s hand. Soon after, the sky was black, the wind rose, and heavy rain fell.

Don’t stop praying when you see nothing. God is still working. James reminds us:

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
—James 5:16

Revival rain is God’s part—but prayer is our part. Drought or downpour, the choice is yours.

A Call to Action

Are you ready for revival? Jesus came the first time as Savior, dying on the cross for our sins. He is coming again as King of Kings. Every knee will bow, but one day it will be too late.

Today is the time to rebuild the altar of prayer. Lay down distractions, idols, and pride. Cry out to God for your family, your workplace, your city, and your nation.

Let’s pray:
Father, thank You that You use ordinary people like Elijah. Use us today. We pray for Your Word to guide us, for Your fire to fall on us, and for Your rain to bring revival in our land. Turn hearts back to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Are you ready to take your next step? We’d love to walk with you. Plan Your Visit or Fill Out a Connect Card so we can pray for you and help you grow in faith.