Over the years I have heard several variations on the following prayer and have never really gotten it.
“Father, we know that every revival that has ever happened in this country started here in New England, and so we just pray that you would pour your Spirit out here so that this nation can be changed again.”
Every revival in these United States ever began in New England? Really? How do we know that? How do we measure that? Who is defining revival? My ORU/Azusa Street buddies would certainly beg to differ, that’s for sure.
And even if that was somehow the case, why would we assume that that meant that God intended to work in that way again? Why wouldn’t he be just as likely to commence revival (however defined) in Seattle, Washington or Austin, Texas or Bloomington, Indiana or Moscow, Idaho? Isn’t it just as likely that He would let these seven super sinful New England states fall off into the Atlantic as begin a national revival here?
Also, it’s a brave new world right? When the Great Awakening rolled out from New England, communications, transportation, commerce and almost everything else was just radically different. New England doesn’t sit in such a privileged position anymore to have any more influence than any other geographic area that has an internet connection. Why we would be praying New England-centric prayers is confusing to me. Maybe it’s just a New England thing… we did, after all, coin Boston the “hub” of the universe.
Now, I am 100000% for God in His grace pouring out His spirit in buckets on New England. We are giving our lives here at Seven Mile Road to lead a congregation that would participate with that kind of redemptive work among our just north of Boston tribe. But I don’t find myself praying, “You started every revival here, and therefore you should do that again.” Why would I think to box God in like that?
For Your glory, show us grace, show everyone grace, show the nations grace, let us be a small part of it. Or a big part of it. Whatever, however, let it roll.