I’m excited about what God is doing in our nation at the moment. I think we can see real revival in our generation. By which I mean huge numbers of people putting their faith in Jesus, returning to God. This is my prayer for this city, and for these islands. In the words of Godfrey Birtill, and of the Apostle Paul, “Let these islands be where children of the promise are found.”
I’ve always thought of the tube as being involved in signs of revival. I’ve had a sense that I’ll really know revival has happened when people are worshipping God, reading their Bibles or praying together on the tube, normally the place of least social interaction in London. Sometimes God gives me little glimpses of that future to come.
I remember many years ago coming home late, on a last tube, almost falling asleep, and slowly realising a group of young women at the other end of the tube carriage were singing Beautiful One by Tim Hughes.
Recently I had another such moment. On a journey to Liverpool St station I was reading my Bible. After I spent about 10 minutes poring over Matthew I looked up, and noticed the woman sat next to me, going over her diary. In big letters on Tuesday evening I could read the words “Bible Study.” She got off at the next stop, I looked across to someone opposite me, and saw they too were reading their Bible.
Little things? Maybe. Signs of the coming revival? I believe so. Little things that remind me that God is not slow in keeping His promises, and that He will bring into being all that He has promised. And I believe that includes bringing revival to this city. All we need to do is keep praying. Often it’s those little things that bring me enough hope to keep on praying.
So please do keep on praying for revival to come to this city. As more of us pray, and continue to pray more often, I believe we’re starting to see it.
Mark Williamson also blogs regularly at One Rock International, a training organisation resourcing missionary leaders across the globe. He’s passionate about good films, good food, getting into deep conversations, and going for long walks with his wife Joanna.