Preparing Today for the Revival We’re Praying for Tomorrow by J. Frank Howard
By J. Frank Howard, author of Revival Ready: How to Pray, Plan, and Prepare for a Move of God
Something powerful happens when a church begins preparing for what it has been praying for. Hope becomes expectation. Expectation inspires action. And the revival we desire to experience tomorrow begins shaping how we pray, serve, and live today. We start seeing new possibilities for our church and community because we believe God is still at work.
We long to see lives transformed, families strengthened, relationships restored, and people discovering the joy of following Jesus. We pray for deeper faith and renewed passion for sharing His love. But along with those prayers comes an important question: Are we preparing for the things we’re praying for? Because tomorrow’s readiness begins with today’s decisions.
(1) Readiness Begins With a Decision
In Matthew 25:1–13, Jesus tells the story of ten bridesmaids waiting for a bridegroom. All ten brought lamps, but only five brought extra oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, everyone grew tired and fell asleep. At midnight, the announcement came. The five who had prepared were ready to enter the wedding celebration.
Here’s the difference: The wise and foolish bridesmaids expected the same arrival, but they prepared for it differently. The wise ones made their decisions before the bridegroom arrived.
Jesus told this parable about being ready for His return. That’s its central message. And the principle of faithful readiness also challenges how we approach opportunities to serve Him now. We can prepare prayerfully for the spiritual renewal we long to see, even as we leave its timing and results in God’s hands. Faith looks forward with expectation. Preparation puts that expectation into action.
(2) Prepare Your Heart for What You’re Praying for
One of the blessings of preparing for revival is discovering how God works in us along the way. As we seek Him, prayer becomes more personal, Scripture speaks more deeply, and our hearts become more responsive to the Holy Spirit. The renewal we desire for our congregation starts by first taking root in our own lives.
We can make time to pray, offer forgiveness, restore and reconcile relationships, and respond to what God is teaching us. These are ways to extend the grace we have received from Him. As we walk with Jesus, He forms our attitudes, priorities, and relationships. The revival we’re praying for in our church can begin with the renewal God is bringing to our hearts.
(3) Prepare to Receive the People You’re Praying to Reach
A church preparing for revival has a special opportunity to work together. Leaders can pray with renewed purpose. Members can invite neighbors, encourage friends, and share the hope they have found in Jesus Christ. Ministry teams can prepare to welcome people warmly and help them connect to Jesus and the body of Christ.
And preparation reaches beyond the scheduled services. Who will pray with those seeking Christ? Who will encourage a new believer? How will people find friendships, learn Scripture, and grow as disciples? Asking these questions now helps us care for people when they respond. We’re preparing for more than a revival service. We’re preparing for the lives God will change.
Thoughtful planning for worship, hospitality, and follow-up is faith expressed through action. We prepare what God has entrusted to us and trust Him for what only He can accomplish.
(4) Let Today’s Preparation Reflect Tomorrow’s Expectation
The wise bridesmaids were ready when the bridegroom arrived because they had prepared beforehand. Their example reminds us that tomorrow’s opportunities require us to make decisions today.
So let’s begin. Pray with expectation. Strengthen fellowship. Equip people to welcome guests and nurture new disciples. Plan with purpose and serve with joy, trusting the God who “is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT).
Tomorrow’s readiness begins with today’s decisions. And when God opens new doors, what a joy and privilege it will be to discover that the faith we practiced today has prepared us to participate in His work tomorrow.
P.S. For more practical ways to prepare, see my book, Revival Ready: How to Pray, Plan, and Prepare for a Move of God, available on Amazon.com. It offers biblical principles and easy-to-implement, practical action steps for churches seeking renewal.