Quick quiz:
Which of these is “revival”?
A) A worship concert with fog machines and a viral hashtag.
B) A great sermon and singing “Side by Side” with your friends around a campfire.
C) A bunch of ordinary people praising God for His love and praying for forgiveness.
If you picked A or B, you’re not alone—but you’d be wrong. The real thing may look less flashy, but it is far more powerful than you might expect.
So what is revival? And why does it matter?
The best way to answer those questions is with a story. Along the way, I’ll point out the characteristics of a true revival (because there are definitely fake revivals that run on vibes instead of God’s power).
Here’s the story:
World War II had recently ended, and life was starting to return to normal on the green islands of Scotland. Families were fishing, cutting peat, and tending their gardens.
But two elderly sisters sensed that all was not well. Peggy and Christine Smith saw that the churches were not as full as they used to be. Young people seemed more interested in listening to the radio and going to dances than hearing God’s Word and living for Jesus.
Burdened by this lack of love for God, the sisters began praying from 10:00 PM to 3:00 AM two to three nights each week, claiming Isaiah 44:3: “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.”
True Revival Characteristic #1: Revival is a gift that God gives when we want Him more than anything else.
They asked the pastor and church elders to pray at the church every Tuesday and Friday night for revival. A group of pastors in the area also began praying for revival. They printed a notice in two newspapers inviting believers to pray for a “spirit of repentance.” Prayer groups sprang up all over the islands, often meeting through the long hours of the night.
True Revival Characteristic #2: Revival comes when we get serious about praying and seeking God.
The prayed-for revival began in a barn one night, where a bunch of people were praying. A young deacon stood up and prayed, “God, are my hands clean? Is my heart pure?” Suddenly, the overwhelming sense of God’s presence gripped everyone in the barn, and they began confessing their sins. When they finally left the barn at 3:00 AM, they found people all over the village awake and pleading with God for forgiveness.
True Revival Characteristic #3: Revival is what happens when God makes His presence and power unmistakably known.
A minister named Duncan Campbell came to speak in the church, and 300 people gathered to hear him the first night. But the young deacon was not satisfied. After everyone left, he remained in the church and pleaded with God to do more.
At midnight, nearly 800 people crowded back into the church. No one had invited them. They were simply drawn by the power of God. Nearby, young people were dancing in a hall. Suddenly, the presence of God came upon the place, and the young people fled the hall as they were convicted of sin. Hundreds more gathered at a police station, confessing their sins and crying out for God’s mercy. All over the countryside, people woke up and sought God.
True Revival Characteristic #4: Revival leads people to turn away from sin.
The revival continued for several years, and thousands of people on the islands were converted. The atmosphere of the whole region changed. God became people’s priority. Churches filled up again. Young people went to prayer meetings instead of dancing. Pubs closed for lack of customers. Families started having morning and evening worship together.
True Revival Characteristic #5: Revival changes people’s lives for the long run, not just for a few days.
During the revival, a number of people felt the call to ministry. Some became pastors. Others went out as missionaries. Many were led to Christ as a result of the revival.
So What Is Revival, Really?
The book of Acts (chapters 1–4) describes the revival that happened after Jesus returned to heaven. Here’s the short version of that story: The disciples recognized what Jesus had done for them on the cross. They prayed for ten days and confessed their sins. The Holy Spirit came upon them in power. The disciples went out and preached about Jesus. Thousands of people became Christians.
Revival isn’t just about good vibes. Instead, it’s about people meeting Jesus and having their lives changed through His truth.
Revival is God’s gift to us. He gives new spiritual life and a renewed desire for Him. The Bible comes to life. Truth matters. Church is where you want to be. Sin suddenly looks like the heinous, terrifying thing that it actually is because you recognize that our sins put Jesus on the cross.
But God never forces Himself on us, so He won’t come uninvited. If you want revival—the true, lasting kind—then ask God to make you hungrier for Him than the things of this world and start praying like you really mean it. Prayer for revival is a prayer God loves to answer: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Want to learn more about what the Bible says about revival? Check out “Twelve Steps to Revival.”