Day 1: A Cry for Awakening

Revival: The Great Awakening (1730s-1740s)

‘The Great Awakening’ was one of the first widespread spiritual movements in the American colonies. Before the revival, religious practice had become formal and lifeless, and churches were losing influence in society. This all changed with the rise of preachers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield. Edwards, a pastor in Massachusetts, sought to awaken his congregation with sermons that emphasised God’s sovereignty and humanity’s dependence on grace. His famous message, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” painted a vivid picture of eternal consequences for sin and the necessity of repentance.

George Whitefield, a traveling evangelist from England, carried the fire of ‘The Great Awakening’ across the Atlantic. Known for his passionate oratory and booming voice, Whitefield preached to thousands in open fields, often to crowds too large for churches to hold. His message was simple: salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The result was a spiritual awakening that transcended denominational boundaries, united communities, and led to the conversion of tens of thousands. ‘The Great Awakening’ also laid the foundation for the American Revolution, as people began to see themselves as equal under God.

Revival begins when individuals and communities hunger for more of God and recognize their desperate need for Him. Make time today to pray for more of God in your life!