The Cost of Revival Is Starting To Move From Comfort to Travail
True spiritual awakening does not come through casual effort or passive routines. It requires an intentional shift away from self-indulgence and distraction toward deep, birth-panging intercession.
The revivalist Leonard Ravenhill issued a relentless challenge to the Church on what true consecration looks like:
"Quit playing, start praying. Quit feasting, start fasting. Talk less with men, talk more with God. Listen less to men, listen more to the words of God. Skip travel, start travail."
What It Means to Travail
Travail is painful, laborious, and demanding effort. We do not fast because it feels pleasant; we do not pray because it is easy; and we do not press in because it comes naturally to our human nature. Left to our own tendencies, our hearts naturally incline to wander, stray, and compromise.
Yet, because of God’s overwhelming grace, we surrender our lives, our time, and our comforts to Him for the sake of Kingdom work.
In Isaiah 53:6, Scripture reveals the foundation of our access to God:
"All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him."
Our iniquity was laid on Christ. It is from this position of completed redemption, and not self-righteous striving that we enter into heavy intercession. When we put aside creature comforts, silence human noise, and overcome daily distractions in Holy Spirit power, we make space to feast on His presence and allow His Word to dwell in us richly.
Our Prayer Focus Today
Set aside dedicated, focused time to align your intercession with these core themes:
Christ’s Finished Work: Meditating on the cross and resting in the full grace secured by Jesus.
Overcoming Distractions: Praying in the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer mental clutter, screen time, and worldly interruptions.
Rich Indwelling of the Word: Asking the Lord to saturate your mind and spirit with Scripture so truth guides every thought.
Perseverance in Intercession: Cultivating the spiritual endurance to labor and travail in prayer until breakthrough comes.
Gen Z & Gen Alpha Revival Fire: Interceding for an uncompromised move of the Holy Spirit to ignite young people with a passion for Jesus.
Stay Connected and Grounded
Discipleship is meant to be walked out together. Join our weekly Zoom discipleship meetings as we pray, study Scripture, and press in for revival together.
To receive the meeting link, email: Joseph@crossroadsyouth.org
Lock in. Lay aside the trivial, enter into travail, and let the eyes of your heart feast on His grace!
