Without a doubt prayer is the most vital element in seeing effectiveness in any series of revival meetings. I believe as the church begins to earnestly seek God in behalf of the upcoming revival services a sense of anticipation and expectancy is cultivated within hearts. 

The history of revival is a history of prayer!!!

In the event you have not yet developed a prayer strategy for the upcoming services, I want to share a few ideas that I have picked up along the way.

• Beginning two months prior to the revival have a special time of prayer during your morning worship service focusing on the upcoming revival meetings.
• Consider scheduling a 40 day period of fasting and prayer for the revival. (A sample form is available.)
• Schedule one or two 24-hour prayer chains to intercede for the outpouring of God’s Spirit
• A month prior to the meetings, ask for volunteers to host weekly one hour prayer meetings
  in their homes. These can focus on seeing unsaved family members, neighbors and the
  back-sudden come to the Lord. Emphasis can also be made to seek the Lord for a mighty
  outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the youth and children.
• Consider an all-night (or 9 pm until midnight) prayer meeting. Have a prayer list made out in advance to help folks focus on specific areas of prayer. Conclude the evening with a time of praise and worship.
• Have special seasons of prayer for the meeting at the mid-week service. Have special prayer meetings for the various departments (i.e.: Youth, Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry etc.).  

Once the revival meetings begin, encourage the people to come early each evening for a time of prayer before the evening services preferably in the sanctuary. Soft music would help create an atmosphere for seeking the Lord and would help set the tone for the evening service.

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Kindled From On High
by William Arthur

It is only by waiting before the throne of grace that we become endued with the Holy Fire. He who waits there long and believingly will imbibe that Fire and come forth from his communion with God bearing tokens of where he has been. The only way to gain spiritual power is by secret waiting at the throne of God for the enduement.

If you would have your soul kindled with the Fire of God you must draw near to the source of that Fire, to the throne of God and of the Lamb, and shut yourself out from the world - that cold world which so swiftly steals our Fire away. Enter into your closet and shut the door and there, isolated before the throne, await the Fire. It will fill you and when you come forth, holy power will attend you and you shall labor not in your own strength but "in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power" (1 Cor. 2:4).

HERALD OF HIS COMING" July 1997 Vol. 56 No. 7 (667) International Edition