Collegiate Day of Prayer Global: 40-Day Prayer GuideSample

Day 24: Stand Firm on His Promises

By Colin Piper (Colin and Melissa Piper are part of the Nxt Move global community praying and working to see the trajectory of Christianity changed in this rising generation.)

“I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground.”

— Isaiah 44:3 (NKJV)

Up here on the edge of northwest Scotland, we look out from our lounge window across a stretch of water called The Minch. When the weather gets rough in the Atlantic, ships sneak through, sheltered from the storm by the islands behind. It’s always been that way. The Celtic missionaries sailed down here to take the gospel across Europe, and for the Puritans this was their first leg on an epic journey to the new world. On our long summer days, the sun will finally set over these islands, known as the Outer Hebrides. We’ll watch them go bright red as though they were on fire—as indeed they were, 75 years ago, when the fire of the Lord came in power.

Between 1949 and 1952, revival swept through the Hebrides, transforming the lives of thousands of people. Repentant souls came to Christ, the established church was awakened, and communities fell to their knees as they experienced the outpouring of God’s Spirit. The Hebridean revival is considered one of the most famous revivals in Scottish history with countless testimonies of how God’s presence gripped the islands and set hearts aflame, focused on eternal realities. As you read the miraculous stories, you can’t help wondering how it began in such an unlikely isolated corner off the British coast. Well, it all started with two very elderly sisters, one blind and one crippled, who believed and trusted in their awesome God.

Peggy and Christine Smith, burdened by the state of the church and their community, set their hearts to pray for revival, holding firm to God’s promise: “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods on the dry ground.” They pleaded this promise day and night until Peggy had a vision that revival was coming imminently. The sisters called for their minister and plans were set in motion to prepare for the harvest. On 13 December 1949, God fulfilled His promise and His presence was powerfully encountered across the islands.

We too are invited to stand on His promises which are the words of eternal life. He calls us to boldly approach Him in prayer to seek the fulfillment of His desire that none should perish, but all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Peggy and Christine saw the world through the heart of God and trusted Him to fulfill His promises. Their unwavering belief in His Word changed the face of the Hebrides—and generations today remain eternally grateful for their faith-filled prayers to a faithful God.

PRAYER POINTS:

• Stand today on God’s promises for your loved ones, college, church, community, and nation.
• Pray that God will show you the needs of the world and give you specific Scriptures to pray until you see breakthroughs for His glory.
• Pray that He will show you how to prepare for all He will do in answer to your prayers.