The Catalyst of Prayer

By Sarah Waldroup

“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” ~Isaiah 43:18-19

Revival. The word often brings to mind camp meetings, large crowds, and overpowering emotions. But, what if a movement swept a town to its knees that did not start with one singular event? What if the fire spread one heart at a time to ignite and unify a city and not just a campus? What if the power of changed lives and of love were so obvious, students could not help but voice their questions about the God behind such a lifestyle? These are the sparks of revival at the University of Georgia.

Here in Athens, prayer is the foundation of revival. Students and adults start prayer groups for each other and for the city regularly. A prayer room in downtown Athens is available 24/7 to the community.  A weekly day of prayer is held on campus in a Student Learning Center. Every day of the week, students gather in small groups to pray. Dining halls echo with prayers beyond blessing food before a meal. Stories of healing begin to seem normal. Sporadic worship anoints the air in dorms, dining halls, parking decks, academic buildings, downtown, and on quads. This symphony of prayer and worship becomes a lifestyle, not just a discipline.

You might think this is simply a product of being in the ‘Bible Belt’ of the South, but this revival is evidence of God revealing Himself more intimately to His children. Prayer brings us closer to the Lord’s heart, and as He begins to replace our desires with His, we begin to intercede for what He wants to do (Psalm 37:4). However, revival is not about full churches. Revival is when individuals each have their hearts set ablaze. It is when believers zealously pursue the Lord and align themselves with each other for one common goal, regardless of denomination, background, or age. And that goal is to know the Lord and obey Him.

The beauty of the bride of Christ is most radiant when she is not divided against herself. Jesus Himself prays that the church “may be perfected in unity” in John 17:23. Seeing prayer groups and worship times that reflect the unity of the body is extremely encouraging. There have been services at various campus ministries to unite the body of Christ to worship and pray together despite differences of denomination. A similar service is planned for the entire community of Athens to unite believers of all ages and denominations in prayer. Even ministers from different campus ministries meet weekly to pray. 

Perhaps we should examine ourselves and realize that we often focus more on differences within the church than on the God we serve. Living as the body of Christ necessitates that we, as the church, live under the name of Jesus and not under that of a denomination. That is when people start asking questions. When people notice our love for one another, they will know that we follow Christ (John 13:35). 

United prayer and love within the body of Christ characterize the spiritual awakening in Athens. The Lord seems to kindle one heart at a time and then use all of those zealous hearts to reach others. Whether it is a homeless man who plays his guitar outside Starbucks or a girl in a math class, God delights in using everyday conversations and people to spread His truth, one at a time.

The awakening at the University of Georgia is not an isolated example; campuses across the nation are experiencing similar kindlings of renewal. The revival is not limited to this generation of college students; groups of all ages likewise pray for revival in cities around the world. No one knows exactly what to expect of revival, but we expect God to be in our midst, and we know that His ways and thoughts are high above ours (Isaiah 55:9) and that He has prepared good that we cannot fathom (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

“Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” ~Psalm 96:2-4