James4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures(NIV)
Evan Roberts, a 26 years old Welsh was at the forefront of the historic revival in Wales. In six months, the revival in Wales caused 100,000 souls to come to the Lord.
However, he often prayed, “Bend me, O God.” How does "bending" relate to revival? Why can't he pray for power and anointing? I may not be able to answer fully for him but one thing I know is that he was concerned about the well-being of his spiritual life so that God can make him a vessel for national revival.
Do not forget, only revived men can bring revival to others. A doctor that is fainting and almost collapsing cannot be called upon to resuscitate a patient that has fainted.
Revived men prayed prayers that were life-transforming so that God can use them as agents of transformation.
I have taken time to study about men that God used in revivals of yore, one notable aspect of their prayer life is their prayer point.
I have always known that God would not have used them the way we read about them If they had prayed the wrong prayers.
Sometime ago, I saw a derisive comment on prayers like: "Lord, break me and mould me". The brother said If he were God, he would break the person into pieces. I knew he lacked understanding about what the prayer meant.
You see, why God has not used us as we desire is because there's a resistance of the flesh. Something is still struggling with God.
In Galatians 5:17, Paul said, "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want."
Don't tell me that you have not experienced this conflict since you gave your life to Christ. Men who desire revival always pray to overcome this conflict and they express it in several ways that's why Evan Roberts often prayed, "Bend me, O God."
Until God prevails in you, He cannot prevail on men through you.
Men that desire revival are not using prayer as a tool to assassinate their enemies neither are they seeking earthly gains.
The great Apostle Paul was an agent of revival and he was a revived man himself. Despite his depth and spiritual experience, he prayed so many kingdom prayers and one of such is: "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"( Philippians 3:10KJV).
What is your major prayer point?
Rev David Ogbueli says, "We can know your age in the Spirit by your prayer points".
The content of your heart and your overriding desire will flow into your prayers. Enemy conscious people never cease to pray against enemies but kingdom conscious people pray kingdom-focused prayers.
Father, I receive the grace to seek after you earnestly in the place of prayer. Not to seek for pecuniary gains but to seek your glory and to be overwhelmed by the mighty power of your presence in the name of Jesus.