The National Prayer Day (also known as National Day of Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation) is a Zambian public holiday celebrated on October 18 every year.
In Zambia, this is a government holiday. All the offices and banks are closed. It was set up as a day to remind the believers to take time to pray, but what should we be praying for?
“if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
In 1927, B.B. McKinney pinned the words to the song “Lord, send a revival.”
Coming now to Thee, O Christ my Lord,
Trusting only in Thy precious Word;
Let my humble prayer to Thee be heard,
And send a great revival in my soul.
Send the Holy Spirit now within
Burning out the dross and guilt of sin
Let Thy mighty works of grace begin
Oh, send a great revival in my soul.
Send a great revival, Lord in me,
Help me that I may rejoice in Thee;
Give me strength to win the victory,
And send a great revival in my soul.
Help me go for Thee, dear Lord, today,
To some lonely soul that’s gone astray;
Help me lead them in the homeward way,
Oh, send a great revival in my soul.
Send a great revival in my soul
Send a great revival in my soul
Let the Holy Spirit come and take control,
And send a great revival in my soul.
So, what is this “Revival” we are singing about and praying for?
“God’s quickening visitation of his people, touching their hearts and deepening his work of grace in their lives.” J. I. Packer
“the sovereign act of God, in which He restores His own backsliding people to repentance, faith and obedience.” Stephen Olford
“times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) J. Edwin Orr
“the awakening or quickening of God’s people to their true nature and purpose.” Robert Coleman
“the return of the Church from her backslidings, and the conversion of sinners.” Charles Finney
“an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit producing extraordinary results.” Richard Owen Roberts
“a community saturated with God” Duncan Campbell
“the work of the Holy Spirit in restoring the people of God to a more vital spiritual life, witness, and work by prayer and the Word after repentance in crisis for their spiritual decline.” Earle Cairns
Many times, as we pray for “Revival”, we begin by praying for God to change the world, our community, our family. These are things that need to happen, but it must begin with “me”.
Evangelist Gypsy Smith, was asked what the secret of revival is.
He said, “Go home. Take a piece of chalk. Draw a circle around yourself. Then pray, ‘O Lord, revive everything inside this circle.’”
A National Day of Prayer is an excellent reminder for us as believers to grab our chalk and pray for revival… and let it begin with me.
The Quillmans 