"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer"- Acts 2:42 (NIV)

Revival has been described as increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of believers. Revivals do result into mass conversions of non-believers who repent of their sinful ways and turn back to God.

Historically revivals have led to restoration of the church to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of moral decline. It has been noted that the abolition movement that led to the end of Atlantic slave trade was inspired by the "Awakening" which also produced some of the greatest world universities like Dartmouth and Princeton.

Here in Uganda we are privileged to have been close by to the 1930 East Africa revival considered by some to be the longest running revival in Christian history. The "Balokole movement" had a sweeping effect on the "dead church" and helped revive it with the fire of a mesage of repentance and turning back to God.

Perhaps we can date back to the first revival to the Pentecost when believers received the holy spirit who totally changed their lives. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting...All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them" (Acts 2: 1-4).

Pentecost totally changed the life of believers. "Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles...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. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved" (vv 44-47).

If we want to see a revival from which our society will change, just as before, therefore we need to be as diligent with prayer, and let the Holy spirit move!

Prayer for today: Lord Father God of creation, of heaven and earth, today I pray that we as the church may devote ourselves to the ministry of prayer from which all great revivals spring and of which we need to see our nation change!