Jonathan Edwards on Prayer

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting… 1 Timothy 2.8

An Humble Attempt
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
“We may observe who they are, that shall be united in thus seeking the Lord of hosts: the inhabitants of many cities, and of many countries, yea, many people, and strong nations, great multitudes in different parts of the world shall conspire in this business…There shall be given much of a spirit of prayer to God’s people, in many places, disposing them to an express agreement, unitedly to pray to God in an extraordinary manner, that he would appear for the help of his church, and in mercy to mankind, and pour out his Spirit, revive his work, and advance his spiritual kingdom in the world, as he has promised.”

What Edwards envisioned was more than an insertion of prayer for revival into the existing prayer routines of the people of God. He called for special seasons of prayer, times set apart to unite by explicit agreement to seek the Lord for revival, with this as the sole focus. Past seasons of revival and awakening have been preceded by such special gatherings, as people united and persevered in prayer, believing and insisting that God would fulfill His promise. As J. Edwin Orr has shown in his many excellent books on the history of revival, God has often worked in the past to revive His Church and awaken the lost, as He raised up men to join in special seasons of prayer, to seek the Lord for revival. May He be pleased to do so again in our day. And may you be one of those men.

How many different ways can you think of that you might use to encourage extraordinary prayer for revival on the part of the people in your church? Choose one, and get started!

If Men Will Pray
What might God do, if men will begin to take more seriously the work of prayer? Our book, If Men Will Pray, works through Paul’s teaching in 1 Timothy 2.1-8, and guides men step-by-step in a deeper, more consistent, more fruitful and enjoyable life of prayer. The book is designed to be used by two men, praying together and encouraging one another over a one-month commitment. Watch this brief video to learn more. Order a copy for yourself and a friend, and start enlisting men to seek the Lord and revival right now (click here).

Learn to Pray for Revival – and Pray!
We currently conduct three meetings to pray for revival, enlisting participants from around the country to come together in our online prayer room once a month – or once a week – to seek the Lord for revival. We use selected psalms to guide our time together, and spend around 30 minutes in prayer together. Join us. We’d like to begin a second weekly group, convening at 4:00 Eastern time each week, to seek the Lord for revival. If you’d like to be part of this group, or if you would like to join an existing revival prayer group, send me an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The Fellowship of Ailbe is supported through the generous and faithful gifts of those who benefit from and believe in our work. Does the Lord want to use you in this way? Please look to Him in prayer over this question. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the Contribute button at our website, or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Thank you.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations are from Jonathan Edwards, An Humble Attempt, &c. in Edward Hickman, ed. The Works of Jonathan Edwards(Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1834, 1995), Vol. Two, pp. 278ff.