Most people would agree that the Welsh Revival was a revival of prayer. Often the meetings would go for hours without any type of teaching or singing, only with prayer and travail. God used a young man named Evan Roberts as His instrument, who was a true intercessor and a man of prayer.

The goal for his first meetings was to train and raise up intercessors for the coming revival. In his book, Revival, Winkie Pratney says, “A prominent member of a Newport Baptist Church declared that Evan Roberts had been praying for thirteen months for that wave of revival to come. He related how the young man was turned out of his lodgings by the landlady who thought that, in his enthusiasm, he was possessed or somewhat mad. He spent hours preaching and praying in his room until the lady became afraid of him and asked him to leave.”

God is not a respecter of persons, but is looking for anyone who will yield to a life of persistent prayer. (tweet)

Evan was persistent in prayer, knowing the key to revival was through a life totally surrendered to the Holy Spirit. At times it would seem his passion and persistence in prayer was unnatural. Yet, when you look at the results of one hundred thousand souls saved in six months, you can only rejoice for his obedience. God is not a respecter of persons, but is looking for anyone who will yield to a life of persistent prayer.

As we read the parable in Luke 18:1–8, we see Jesus teaching that we should always pray and not lose heart. He uses the illustration of a widow going before the judge to get justice from her adversary. Due to the widow’s continual persistence, the judge chose to grant her plea. For she was wearing him down through her persistent pleading. In verse 7, the Lord said, “Shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” God wants us to understand that He will answer the righteous who cry out to him continually and persistently! That’s a promise! There is a blessing to those who will not lose heart! Paul said in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” It’s time for the church to forget the things of the world and endure in prayer for breakthrough.

Years ago, we were led to start a prayer meeting for the youth ministry on the night before our weekly youth service. We were in desperate need of a touch of God in our services. Knowing that prayer was the only thing that would change the situation, we began a Tuesday night prayer meeting. We called it STOP club (Serious Teens of Prayer), because we knew we had to be serious about praying the price. In the beginning, the numbers were few in attendance. Those who showed up were ready to press in through prayer. Week after week, we persisted in prayer on behalf of the youth in our community. We pulled down the strongholds and powers of the enemy through radical prayer. We cried out to the Lord to change us and revive us, bringing us to a place where we could receive his outpouring. The prayer meeting never grew to large numbers, though in might and power it grew phenomenally. It brought in many hurting young people from every corner of our community. I believe God wants to do the same in every community, so let us endure in prayer!