Revival

I don't think I have ever heard a Casting Crowns song I did not like!  Look at these words.

If We've Ever Needed You
Hear our cry, Lord, we pray
Our faces down, our hands are raised
You called us out, we turned away
We've turned away

With shipwrecked faith the idols rise
We do what is right in our own eyes
Our children now will pay the price
We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out

All our hearts, all our strength
With all our minds, we're at Your feet
May Your kingdom come in our hearts and lives
Let Your church arise, let Your church arise

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
We're reaching out

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, reaching out

We need You now
Revive us now
We need You now

This song is on my heart as I think of our scheduled revival this month. Man may prepare and pray for revival but true revival is the work of a sovereign God.   Revival comes when Christians are longing for God and God alone.  Brian Edwards' gives a definition of revival in his book, "Revival A People Saturated With God"
"A true Holy Spirit revival is a remarkable increase in the spiritual life of a large number of God's people, accompanied by an awesome awareness of the presence of God, intensity of prayer and praise, a deep conviction of sin with a passionate longing for holiness and unusual effectiveness in evangelism leading to the salvation of many unbelievers."

How I long to see this happen in America.  Let's prepare our hearts and pray.  May God rend the heavens and come down. 
"Restore us again, O God our Savior
and put away your displeasure towards us.
Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that Your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us Your salvation. Ps 85:4-7