Week 3 - Preparation for Consecration
Updated: Aug 28
Preparation for Consecration - Third Week
Day 15 - What is Revival
When people hear the word “revival,” they often think of a city filled with crowds, large gatherings, or a nation shaken by God’s power. This would be better described as the fruit of revival. Biblical revival begins with repentance - a return to God with our whole heart and a return to our first love. It is primarily a restoration to the Father's original intention for our relationship, love and obedience to Him.
Revival does not begin in a stadium. Biblical revival usually begins in a single heart. Before we can see revival in our families, churches, or nations, it must start personally—each one of us returning to the Lord with all our hearts. If the fire does not burn in the individual, it cannot spread to the community.
In this article, we will summarize what revival is, and primarily discuss how to have personal revival, but we will also mention corporate revival.
One of the best and quickest ways to experience personal, family and corporate revival is to participate in the 21 Days of Consecration with a group of believers. To go even deeper into the theme of revival, read more on our site: https://www.globalconsecration.org/what-is-biblical-revival
What Revival Is Not
Revival is not a series of meetings, conferences, or concerts, etc.
Revival is not mere emotion. Tears, excitement, or feelings of passion may accompany it, but revival is far deeper than a passing mood.
Revival is not first for the world outside. Many think revival is about sinners repenting in great numbers, but the first work of revival is always in the people of God. It is when His Church wakes up.
Revival is not something we can manufacture. It is not a product of better music, better preaching, or better programs.
Revival is not when miracles, healings, or signs and wonders manifest.
Definition of Biblical Revival
Revivals vary greatly in their scope, nature, and impact—from the reviving of a single heart to awakening entire nations. However, we want to define biblically what we believe true revival is, as there are many opinions and beliefs on the subject.
Traditionally, much of the church has defined revival, awakening, or moves of God in many ways (e.g., an increase in new converts, miracles, church growth, etc.). We believe that much of what the church has called revival would be more accurately described as the fruit of a group of believers who have been revived.
While the word “revival” itself is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the concept is vividly present. God speaks and manifests this concept throughout the Old and New Testaments, using words like “revive,” “awake,” “return,” “restore,” and “arise” in Scriptures such as Psalm 85, Psalm 80, and Isaiah 60.
“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)
These truths are rooted throughout the Bible and primarily concern the love, relationship and obedience of God’s people with Him.
Revival: More Than an Event or Power - It’s a PERSON
Above all, revival is a Person—Christ Himself. It is the revelation of Christ and the manifestation of His presence by the Father through the Holy Spirit. The Father will not do or give anything apart from His Son. Christ is the only way to have anything, including revival (John 14:6) .
Historically, when the church or a person has strayed—becoming apostate, forsaking its first love, becoming works-driven, sinful, religious, doctrinally errant, self-centered, prosperity-focused, and aligned with the world—the Father gives His people a greater revelation of Christ so that they increase in the knowledge of who He is.
Consider the early Church, soon after the death and resurrection of Christ. As these issues began to surface, the Father inspired the apostle John to write the Gospel of John, releasing a greater revelation Christ to the Church.
Apply It
Examine your own need for revival before thinking about anyone else. Spend time alone with God and ask: “Lord, what areas of my relationship with You need to be revived?” Consider your love for Jesus, desire for His presence, prayer life, hunger for His Word, obedience, holiness, and love for others. Write down the areas where you recognize spiritual dryness, distance, compromise, or decline. Ask God to revive these areas and restore you to the simplicity and centrality of Jesus.
We are just a week away from the 21 Days of Consecration! We encourage you to:
Pray and decide which type of fast you are going to do during the 21 Days. We suggest that today you start reading our material on fasting to understand the spiritual and physical benefits of fasting, and the different types of fasting.
It's also a good time to invite others to join you for the 21 Days of Consecration, especially organize meetings with other brothers and sisters in Christ. In our Consecration Library, you'll also have access to our ebook "How to Organize Meetings."
So, if you haven't already, sign up at globalconsecration.org/#form to receive more on fasting and several other ebooks that will transform your life.
(All these materials are provided free of charge, the only thing we ask is that you sign up at our website.)
Day 16 - How God Releases Revival
New Testament Revival
The heartbeat of revival is the Father, through the Holy Spirit, revealing His Son and restoring us to the simplicity and centrality of Christ! The fruit of this will be a dramatic increase in His presence, love, intimacy, obedience, and holiness. Revival is also a return to normal Christianity—to what the New Testament calls every believer to live. In the book of Acts, the Church walked in simplicity, devotion, holiness, love, and power. Revival is not something extraordinary, but simply the restoration of what God always intended to be ordinary.
It is when Jesus becomes our first love again (Revelation 2:4). It is when our hearts burn with fresh passion for His presence, His Word, and His mission on earth. Revival restores joy where there was dryness, hope where there was discouragement, and love where there was coldness. It is not about religion, but about relationship—a return to walking closely with our Father.
How God Releases Revival
We believe that we can never put God in a box. He can release revival when, where, and how He wants. But He does have patterns, always fulfills His Word, and is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He has chosen not to do anything on earth without a partnership with His people. Someone must stand in the gap, intercede, cry out, and obey Him.
We are not saying that we believe we can manufacture revival or manipulate God. However, the Bible makes it very clear that if we repent, obey, and do what God requires, He will fulfill what He has promised in His Word!
For example, in the Old Testament, only God could release the fire upon the altar, even though it was His will and timing to do it. He would not send the fire until the priests and prophets put what He required on the altar. Once God released the fire, the priests were also responsible for tending that fire and not letting it go out.
Could it be that we are waiting on God for revival, but He is actually waiting on us to repent and to do our part? Could it be that it was never His intention for revival to end, but that it ended because we didn’t steward what He had released?
The Purpose of Revival
The primary purpose of revival is to return to our first love and to the centrality and simplicity of Christ—true Christianity—acknowledging that apart from Christ, we can do nothing. The Father will not do, give, or release anything apart from His Son. When we make the Kingdom and Christianity about doctrine, principles, traditions, works, or events apart from Christ, it becomes religion, because it comes from our own strength, which Jesus opposes. This leads to a form of godliness produced by the flesh that denies the power, which is why Paul said:
“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)
Christ and the Cross are the Power of the Gospel
When we declare our need for revival, we acknowledge that we are asleep and spiritually dead and that we need to be awakened and arise, to live and manifest the Word of God and the Father’s original intention for His family and the Bride of Christ. Revival is for Christians first. Once the body of Christ is revived, we move into mass conversions and transformational revival. The Kingdom of God manifests and transforms every part of society through us.
Apply It
Ask God what He wants you to lay on the altar. The fire came from God, but His people first had to prepare the altar and obey what He required. Ask: “Lord, is there anything You have already asked me to repent of, surrender, change, or obey that I have delayed doing?” Write down what He shows you, repent and act on it today. Do not merely ask God to send revival—prepare your heart and obey His Word so that He will respond.
Day 17 - Begin to Experience Personal Revival
The Call of Jesus in Revelation 2
In Revelation 2:4–5, Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus with words that also reach us today: “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.” These words remind us that revival is not only about nations—it begins personally, in the secret place of the heart.
Jesus calls us to:
Remember – “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 46:9)
Repent – “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)
Return to the first works – “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
Revival does not usually start with crowds; it begins with one person—you. Jesus said to return to the first works (Revelation 2:5).
Think: what did you do when your heart was burning for Him? Did you pray more? Did you spend hours in the Word? Did you share Jesus more boldly with others? Revival is simply doing again those first works—but this time with deeper love and understanding.
Maybe you never had that “first love” experience. That’s okay—today is the best time to start. God is ready to ignite something brand new in you.
Practical Steps to Experience Personal Revival
1. Repent Quickly and Sincerely
Do not let sin linger. Confess and turn back immediately. Repentance keeps the heart tender and open to God.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
“Be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:19)
Revival always starts with REPENTANCE! Repentance is more than confessing a sin and asking for forgiveness, although it includes these things. True repentance is turning from sin to God! We have godly sorrow and choose by the grace of God to never to commit the same sin again.
We need to repent of all known sin and ask the Lord to show us any hidden sins. For example: unforgiveness, disobeying what He has told us to do in His Word, and personally. One of the most common sins that most believers do not recognize is the sin of loving and being friends with the world. When we do this, we cannot experience His love and presence in the way He intended. We become enemies of God, and now He opposes us until we repent.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15–17)
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
Apply It
Write down at least three things that have diminished or disappeared from your walk with God, and begin doing them again today. If you have never experienced that kind of first love for Jesus, ask Him to begin something new in you now.
Choose one daily practice to strengthen immediately. Set aside a specific time today for the Word, prayer, and worship without distractions. Do not approach it simply as a religious obligation. Come simply to spend time with Jesus. Ask Him to restore your hunger for His presence and make fellowship with Him the greatest pleasure of your life.
Day 18 - Do You Love the World?
Watch this short film we produced as an introduction and illustration that will bring you clarity and hope (subtitles available in multiple languages):
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/KA7NHWkMAjg?si=_wxu9FHIW3LwhvYu
Test: Do you love the world?
Do you spend more of your free time, extra money, and thoughts on the world than you do on Him and His Kingdom? For example: Do you spend more time on your phone, computer, or television for entertainment than you do with Jesus? When you have extra money, do you give the majority of it to orphans, widows and the poor, or do you spend on something from the world that you do not need? What do you think and dream about throughout the day— Jesus, His Word, and the Kingdom, or the things of the world? If you do any of this, then you love and are a friend of the world and need to repent (James 4:4).
2. Recognize How Poor You Are
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:3–4)
To be poor in spirit is to recognize our true condition—that we are not rich but actually poor. We do this by looking at what God promises is ours because of the finished work of the cross, and that which we are not manifesting in our lives.
We also look at the relationship others had with God and the way He used men and women in the Bible, throughout history, in our own sphere, and around the world. We then compare our lives to all of these people. Ultimately we look at Jesus.
Once we do this, we will actually see how poor we are in comparison, because God is no respecter of persons, and everything that’s in His Word is for us. Once we see how poor we really are, this will cause us to mourn for more of Him. The way He will comfort us is by giving and manifesting what we are mourning over.
3. Fasting the World and Having Hunger for God
Fast everything from the world that is giving you pleasure (social media, movies, unnecessary shopping, video games, etc.), even if it’s not considered a sin.
Just like with physical hunger, if we are constantly eating junk food, we will not be hungry for what is good for us. When we fast from the pleasures of the world, our hunger for God will increase, and then we will taste and see that He is good. Our appetite will then change, and we will no longer desire the things of the world more than we desire Him.
Pray honestly: “Lord, I want You and Your will for my life more than anything else.” God always responds to a hungry heart.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)
4. Eating His Word Daily
The Bible is not just instruction or doctrine; it is God’s voice. It is the person of Christ. Read slowly, meditate throughout the day, obey what you read, and let it transform your life.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
5. Pray
Prayer is a conversation and fellowship with your Father. Do not complicate it—speak to Him as a child speaks to a loving father.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
6. Worship from the Heart
Sing, give thanks, and adore Him—not only in church services, but every day. Revival is sustained when we live in worship.
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
“Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.” (Hebrews 13:15)
Prayer for Personal Revival:
“Lord Jesus, I remember when I first loved You. Forgive me for growing lukewarm. I repent and turn back to You with all my heart. Restore to me the joy of Your presence. Help me to obey and live in Your Word, prayer, and worship. Let my life be a flame of love for You. Amen.”
Signs of Revival - How can you know you are walking in revival?
Love for Jesus and the Father grows
Jesus becomes your greatest pleasure and treasure. He truly becomes the One you desire and want more than anything else. You will spend much more time in intimacy alone with Him. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.” (Psalm 73:25)
His presence increases, and there is a new joy.
In His presence is fullness of joy. When love grows, the fruit of that will be obedience. He said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
The Word becomes alive for you
You read the Bible with new understanding, joy, and actually begin to encounter Jesus as you do. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130)
Prayer becomes natural
You desire to talk with God throughout the day. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)
Holiness becomes attractive
You want to live a pure life and please Him. “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15)
Love for people deepens
You forgive easily, ask for forgiveness quickly, serve with joy, and share Jesus boldly. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
Whenever you see His presence or any part of your walk with the Lord diminish, you are becoming lukewarm. Don’t stay there! Remember (what you had), Repent, and Return!
Revival does not make life perfect, but suffering, trials, and testing no longer affect us the same way. It gives power, joy, peace, and renewed intimacy with God in the middle of every situation.
Don’t ever be content with what you have! There is no end to what we can have in God! His will is that you go from glory to glory now and for all eternity.
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)
Apply It
Honestly examine where your affection, time, thoughts, and resources are going. Look at the past months and ask: “What received most of my free time? What occupied my thoughts? What did I spend unnecessary money on? What did I turn to for pleasure and comfort?” Consider your phone, social media, television, movies, shopping, games, hobbies, possessions, entertainment, and other pleasures. Ask God to show you anything you desire or enjoy more than Him, and repent specifically for what He reveals.
Day 19 - How to Pray Effectively - Part 1
There is nothing greater we can do to release His will and advance His Kingdom on earth than prayer and intercession. However, just because we pray does not mean God will answer. This guide is designed to help you not only pray but also experience answered prayer.
We see from God’s Word that the most powerful and effective way to pray—whether in supplication, intercession, or spiritual warfare—is to declare the Word. We see that even Jesus opposed and resisted Satan with the Word (Matthew 4:4; James 4:7). Angels obey His Word (Psalm 103:20). The Lord watches over His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12). His Word never returns void but always accomplishes His purpose (Isaiah 55:11).
Because of this, when we pray, we should use the Word first. Jesus, the apostles, and the early Church prayed using the Word. They declared Scripture, releasing the Lord’s will (the answer) from heaven onto the earth, rather than focusing on the problem. They prayed specific verses that would transform and impact the Church, sinners, cities, and nations.
Our Greatest Function
Our greatest function now and in the age to come is to be a royal priesthood (Revelation 5:10). We can and must intercede and repent for the sins of the Church, people, and places for which we pray. However, just as the priests in the Bible could not stand in the gap and offer repentance for the sins of others until they themselves had repented and were holy before the Lord, we also must repent and confess our sins before we have full authority to intercede and ask forgiveness for the sins of others. Only then can we engage in biblical spiritual warfare: first removing all legal rights of Satan through repentance, then renouncing the authority and legal claims the enemy possesses because of those sins, and finally declaring the Word, Lordship, and authority of Jesus Christ.
Because of the population and Church growth, as well as the increase in prayer in recent decades, we probably have more prayer being released on the earth than ever before in history. But we do not see the same power in prayer that marked the early Church. We have more churches than ever, yet evil continues to increase in our communities and nations. One reason is that we do not pray the Word as often as we should. Another major reason is that our prayers are not effective. We must obey 2 Chronicles 7:14 until the Lord hears us again and answers our prayers.
One of the main obstacles to the power of corporate prayer is the presence of intentional sin, offense, division, or unforgiveness among those gathered. This is why Jesus’ response is so strong: He said that if a person does not listen and repent, they should be removed from the church, because if they remain, there can be no agreement in prayer (Matthew 18:15-21).
True repentance is not only asking God to forgive us, but also committing to change our lives from that moment forward—it is literally “turning from our wicked ways” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Below are verses highlighting areas that hinder our prayers, where we must repent personally before praying, and then ask God for forgiveness on behalf of the Church in our city and nation. True repentance results in a commitment before God, by His grace, to stop sinning and to obey what He commands in His Word.
Hindrances to Prayer
In several of the topics and verses below, God either directly says that He will not hear our prayers, or the context and consequences imply it. The greatest of these is unforgiveness, which prevents our own sins from being forgiven. When we harbor intentional or unrepentant sin, God does not listen to us. For the complete free ebook on Effective Prayer Sign Up Here: globalconsecration.org/#form
Even though there might remain in our lives things that could hinder our prayers, we trust His mercy and still come before Him with confidence and faith because of the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19). The fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we have been given the very righteousness of God, so when we pray, our faith rests not in our own righteousness but in His.
Apply It
Over the past week, you have been forgiving people and repenting of some of your own sins. Today and over the next few days, as you read this list of verses, begin repenting of each sin or attitude you recognize in your life. And not only confess it, but write down what you will do to change that reality. If you see anything that you are not practicing, and the Lord has commanded you to, write down how you will start applying it in your life over the next few days.
1. Sin and Iniquity
John 9:31 – “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, God listens to him.”
Galatians 5:19-21 – “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Isaiah 59:2 – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”
Psalm 66:18 – “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
2. Lack of Forgiveness
Mark 11:25 – “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
3. Lack of Abiding / Intimacy
John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:7 – “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13 – “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Day 20 - How to Pray Effectively - Part 2
Yesterday you started to repent of specific things the Bible lists that are hindering your prayers from being answered by the Lord. Here are some additional verses. As you read each verse, remember to repent and ask the Lord to keep searching your heart and revealing anything that needs to change.
Lack of Love / Broken Relationships
1 Corinthians 13:2 – “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (From the Greek: οὐθέν εἰμι [Outhen eimi], it can mean "useless, worthless, good for nothing, completely ineffective".)
Matthew 5:23-24 – “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
1 John 4:20 – “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
1 John 4:8 – “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
John 13:34-35 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
5. Lack of Faith
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”
Matthew 17:20 – “He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.’”
6. Disobedience
John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Proverbs 1:28-29 – “Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.”
7. Divided Loyalty
James 4:4 – “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]."
8. Idolatry
Ezekiel 14:3 – “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?” (An idol of the heart can be anything that we value, trust in, spend more of our free time or money on than God.)
Jeremiah 11:10-11 – “They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers. Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.”
9. Vain Repetitions / Empty Words
Matthew 6:7 – “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.”
10. Pride and Self-Righteousness
Luke 18:10-14 – “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
James 4:6 – “But He gives more grace. Therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (He will oppose our prayers.)
11. Incorrect Motives
James 4:3 – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”
Matthew 6:5 – “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.”
12. Praying Contrary to God’s Will
1 John 5:14-15 – “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.”
Luke 22:42 – “Saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’”
Proverbs 28:9 – “If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.”
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Day 21 - How to Pray Effectively - Part 3
Today is the last day of the Preparation for Consecration! 🎉Congratulations on coming this far in the journey and on putting so much of what you have learned into practice.
Below is the final part of the list of Hindrances to Prayer.
Keep repenting of what you recognize that is present in your life (or is lacking in your life), and ask God for grace to change.
13. Not Asking Specifically or in His Name
James 4:2 – “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.”
Matthew 7:7-8 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
John 16:24 – “Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
14. Lack of Persistence
Luke 18:1 – “And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Luke 18:7-8 – “And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Hebrews 10:36 – “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”
15. Stubborn Refusal to Listen / Hardening the Heart
Zechariah 7:13 – “‘As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
16. Mistreating Spouse
1 Peter 3:7 – “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
17. Corrupt Spiritual Leadership and Exploitation of Believers
Micah 3:4 – “Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not answer them; He will hide His face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.”
18. Double-Mindedness
James 1:6-8 – “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
19. Justice for Orphans and Widows Ignored
Isaiah 1:15-17 – “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
James 1:27 – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
20. Neglecting the Poor
Proverbs 21:13 – “Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”
Isaiah 58:6-9 – “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am’.”
Matthew 25:45 – “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’”
21. Prayers That Test God
Matthew 4:7 – “Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Isaiah 7:12 – “But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.’"
Psalm 78:18 - “They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.”
Concluding Thoughts
As we've seen throughout this guide, the purpose of these biblical warnings is not to discourage us from praying but to draw us into a deeper relationship with God. Because of Jesus Christ, we can approach the Father with confidence, knowing that He delights in forgiving, restoring, and transforming those who seek Him.
As you continue growing in prayer, ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart, remove every obstacle that hinders your fellowship with God, and teach you to pray according to His Word and His will. The Father is not looking for perfect people—He is looking for humble hearts that trust Him, obey Him, and desire to know Him more deeply.
Hebrews 4:16 — "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
May your prayer life become more than a daily habit. May it become a joyful, lifelong fellowship with your heavenly Father, through whom His kingdom is advanced in your life, your family, your church, your community, and the nations!
Apply It
Ask God for forgiveness for any time He wanted your partnership in intercession for others, and you didn't respond as He intended.
Ask God to give you His heart for your city. Starting today, begin praying daily for the Church in your city. Ask Him for Scriptures to declare over it.
Apostolic Prayers
As we said before, one of the ways to have our prayers answered is by declaring God's Word.
We prepared a document for you containing prayers that Jesus, the apostles, and the early Church prayed, so that you can also declare them over your family, city, and nation. Feel free to share, print, and make copies of it to use with other believers.
📲 Access here: https://www.globalconsecration.org/apostolicprayers
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