Who thinks we are headed for a spiritual revival? If you think the U.S. is not headed for a spiritual revival, please tell us why. Was anyone offended by the president's call to prayer? What was positive about this display of faith and spiritual renewal?

It is God's call. Spiritual revival cannot be manufactured. It can't be earned. Yet, it is ALWAYs preceded by prayer. From the time of the Old Testament, a gracious God has responded to the prayers of a repentant people. It didn't have to be a lot of people praying to start things off. In 1858 one man's prayer meeting turned into a revival that swept across New York City and resulted in over 2,000,000 professions of faith and additions to the church. Another key indicator is that God comes when needed. At different times in the 1700s, the moral situation in England was bleak. Every other business was a pub. Religion was characterized by a dead orthodoxy. Unregenerate clergy were the norm- then God came and we had the 1st great awakening. Later in that situation, in America, the story was much the same. Universities founded as religious institutions persecuted the believers within the walls. The age of "Reason" had taken over and people scoffed at God- until He came during the second Great Awakening. Time and time again, God has shown grace to wicked people and pulled them away from certain destruction. Will He do so this time. This has been my prayer for some time- but ultimately, it is up to Him. He does respond to prayer, but He is not obligated to do anything. It will only be by His grace that revival and spiritual awakening occur - but then again, grace is one of the many things He excels at.

Thanks for your response both on prayer and grace.

I am in seminary. My first semester here we had a class on Revival & Spiritual Awakenings (Revival is what happens to an apathetic church, spiritual awakening is what happens when people are saved). It is one of the most life changing studies one can imagine. After that class, I do not assume that we are so wicked that God couldn't save us. It has actually been His modus operandi to do just that.

There was one night we watched a video, "When God Comes" about the Asbury revival in the 1960s. It was more of an emotional revival and therefore more short-lived, but the impact it had on those who experienced it lasts til this day.

One of my professors participated in a localized revival and testifies of the life-changing power of when God moves.

I long to see this. After the video, it was one of those things where you are just silent. Truly awestruck by the power of God.

God can send real revival and awakening. God can accomplish the things that most think are impossible (such as getting rid of abortion). God can touch the hearts of wicked selfish people and melt them. Oh, that He would do so during this time. At least one good thing could have come out of such horror and tragedy.

That's the interesting thing about the events of this week. While the attacks and carnage were grotesque and horrific, the outpouring of emotions and spiritual affirmations clearly are having a very good impact on the national psyche.

i think you're on the right track. the last issue of American Heritage had an article on point, reflecting that spiritual revivals have taken place four times before in American history. Let us only hope that it is time again. God bless America.

Actually, it is more than four times. Maybe the times they are talking about are the 1st Great Awakening (Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, the Wesleys), the 2nd Great Awakening (Finney?, Nettleton, Cartright), the 1858 Prayer Revival, and maybe the revival of the 1970s. These have been widespread. There are also more localized revivals which have occurred throughout our history. Fantastic study if you ever get an opportunity.

Was anyone offended by the president's call to prayer?

Surely, but how to circumvent it? Atlanta's favorite abortion clinic observed the National Day of Prayer by hoisting a brand-new American flag - and then packing the place to overflowing with customers. (Evidently they ran a special.) A spiritual renewal in this country is very much in order, but it will take more than a surge of (so far) cost-free patriotism (with photo-ops for the likes of Chelsea Clinton) to accomplish it.

Thanks for the input. I appreciate it. I think the spiritual dimension is a larger and significant angle to this story.

all i know is that after i read of the great revival of the 1830s (i think) a few years ago, and tried to relate it to others, i was scoffed at. i think it will come true. anyway, let us pray it will. God bless.

Valid insights. There's a lot of baggage in the area of moral reform in the country. But a lot of Americans were exposed to the idea of praying and going to church today. More than usual. That's worth exploring.

I'm with you! That was the 2nd Great Awakening period. Another thing is God doesn't come in the same way with these Revivals. Some are Word based (they tend to last longer), some emotional, some last many years, some only days. I pray a long lasting revival occurs in this nation that will change her focus to Him from now on. Revival is preceded by prayer. Revival is also preceded by a time of decline. The church and society have certainly declined. We are ready for God to move.

I think the tremendous outpouring of emotion the last few days expresses something deeper than just the grief from loss. It seems to be a sign that this was needed. There is an awful lot of repressed spirituality that is coming out now. People want a sense of spiritual community and connectedness rooted in a deep respect for the sacredness of each person. That's what I saw today.

I think many are tired of moral relativism. There's a part of the PC agenda that went down with those planes. Will the media figure this out?

BUMP

Excellent post. What is the old addage...There are no aethists in fox holes? Seeing the sudden carnage and recognizing how fleeting our mortality is, IMO, can and will cause many to reaccess their faith (or lack thereof).

God bless America.

Bump

Yeah. There's only so much moral and cultural decline that people can take. Eventually they seek something deeper, something with dignity and integrity that gets them back in touch with positive values. Moral decline is basically depressing. I think the outpouring of religious emotion is a sign that many people want out of a culture of moral relativism, materialism, and callous godlessness.

War and suffering, however horrific, are woven into the providential wisdom of God. We have heroes today when just a few weeks ago Gary Condit and his weirdness held center stage. There's definitely a different feeling in the country tonight.

But ya know what is interesting about Revival. Sometimes it comes when people aren't really looking for it. It is God reaching out to man, not necessarily man reaching out to God. Yes, it is preceded by prayer- but often the prayers of a few end up being answered in the redemption of many.

the "mainstream media"?--no. i just watched ted koppel and david halberstam wrestle with the issue of "do the American people have the will to deal with this, or os this just a flash in the pan". why is our will even being questioned? we know why. the attempted ruinization of our culture by the clintonistas--too bad for them, i think the American people are more resilient than they could ever imagine. i was lifting weights this afternoon, when a friend of mine, about 65 years old, bemoaned the feminization of today's culture, asking me whether our younger generation had the will (and cojones) to do the job--at which point a twenty-something behemoth, who had just lifted 6 plates, turned to us and said--"bring 'em on". we will prevail. God bless America.