Revival and awakening are powerful themes throughout Scripture. They represent a divine work of transformation that breathes new life into God’s people, revitalizing their faith and passion for His will. In both the Old and New Testaments, revival is depicted as a time when God’s people turn back to Him, experiencing spiritual renewal, repentance, and an outpouring of His Spirit. Revival is not merely a temporary emotional high, but rather a profound, lasting change that leads to greater devotion, deeper holiness, and a more powerful witness to the world.
The Bible is filled with passages that speak to the need for revival and awakening—both personal and corporate. God promises to revive His people, and the Scriptures provide countless examples of how He has done this throughout history. Revival is often preceded by a period of spiritual dryness, but it always brings about a restoration of joy, power, and purpose.
In this article, we will explore 20 Scriptures that speak about revival and spiritual awakening. These verses are a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His people, and they offer a powerful invitation to seek Him with all our hearts. As you read through these verses, may your heart be stirred to pray for revival in your own life, in the Church, and in the world.
1. 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
This is one of the clearest calls to revival in the Bible. It emphasizes the need for humility, repentance, and seeking God’s face. When God’s people turn away from sin and return to Him, He promises to heal and restore.
2. Psalm 85:6
“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”
The psalmist is pleading with God for revival—asking that God would restore joy to His people. Revival brings renewed joy in the Lord and in His presence.
3. Isaiah 57:15
“For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’”
God promises to dwell with the humble and contrite in spirit. Revival comes when we humble ourselves before God and recognize our need for His touch.
4. Ezekiel 37:5-6
“This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
In the vision of the valley of dry bones, God promises to bring life where there is death. Revival often feels like a resurrection, bringing new life to dry, weary hearts.
5. Habakkuk 3:2
“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”
Habakkuk prays for revival in his time, asking God to repeat the mighty deeds He has done in the past. This prayer reflects a longing for God to move again as He has in previous generations.
6. Joel 2:28-29
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”
This prophecy foretells a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Revival is marked by an outpouring of God’s Spirit, bringing empowerment, vision, and prophetic utterances to His people.
7. Acts 3:19
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Repentance is a vital aspect of revival. When we turn to God, He brings times of refreshing and renewal. Revival always follows a turning of the heart back to God.
8. Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Revival begins with personal transformation. Offering ourselves to God as living sacrifices, we experience a renewal of our minds, which leads to a deeper commitment to His will.
9. Psalm 51:10-12
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
David’s prayer of repentance and renewal is a powerful example of how revival starts with a contrite heart. God restores the joy of salvation and renews the spirit when we repent and seek Him.
10. John 4:23-24
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Revival involves a deeper, more authentic worship experience. True worshipers are those who are revived in spirit and who worship God in truth and sincerity.
11. 2 Kings 22:19-20
“Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become a curse and be laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. Therefore I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be buried in peace.”
King Josiah’s response to the Word of God, his humility, and repentance brought revival to Israel. Revival often begins when God’s people respond to His Word with brokenness and humility.
12. Zechariah 10:1
“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.”
This verse uses the imagery of rain to describe the refreshing that comes with revival. Just as rain nourishes the earth, God’s Spirit refreshes and revives His people.
13. Psalm 80:18-19
“Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”
This prayer reflects a cry for God’s face to shine upon His people once again. Revival is the restoration of God’s favor, bringing salvation and transformation.
14. Isaiah 64:1-2
“Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! As when fire sets twigs ablaze and the fire causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!”
The prophet Isaiah longs for God to intervene in a powerful way, shaking the earth with His presence. Revival is marked by a tangible and powerful move of God’s Spirit.
15. Revelation 3:19-20
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
Revival begins with repentance and openness to God. Jesus’ call to those in Laodicea is a reminder that revival starts with allowing Christ to enter and restore our hearts.
16. 2 Chronicles 20:12
“Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
In the face of overwhelming opposition, King Jehoshaphat leads Judah in prayer and submission to God, acknowledging their powerlessness. Corporate revival begins when communities of believers unite in prayer, acknowledging their dependence on God for deliverance.
17. Nehemiah 1:4
“When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”
Nehemiah’s heart was broken over the state of Jerusalem, and his response was one of mourning, fasting, and prayer. His example shows us that revival often begins with a broken heart over sin and spiritual decay within a community or nation.
18. Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”
The early church in Acts exemplifies what corporate revival looks like. They were unified in their devotion to God, prayer, and fellowship. Revival sparks a deep sense of community and love, as people are drawn together by their common faith in Christ.
19. John 14:16-17
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as a helper and guide. It is through the Spirit that revival takes place, as He moves in the hearts of believers, convicting them of sin, drawing them to God, and empowering them for righteous living.
20. Zechariah 4:6
“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”
Revival is not accomplished through human strength or effort, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. This verse reminds us that lasting change and renewal can only come through the work of the Spirit in our hearts and lives.
Conclusion
Revival and awakening are essential themes throughout the Bible. These 20 scriptures are not just reminders of the past, but they are also a call to action for today. Revival begins with repentance, humility, and seeking God with all our hearts. It is a work of God that leads to spiritual renewal, a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and a renewed passion for His presence and purpose. May these verses stir your heart to pray for revival in your own life, your church, and your community. May you experience the awakening that comes from the Holy Spirit, and may it transform your life, your relationships, and your world.
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