Day 5: Rivers of Living Water

Revival: The Hebrides Revival (1949-1952)

‘The Hebrides Revival’ in Scotland was one of the most extraordinary awakenings of the 20th century. It began in the small villages of the Outer Hebrides, sparked by the prayers of two elderly sisters, Peggy and Christine Smith, aged 82 and 84. Both housebound and afflicted by illness, the sisters prayed daily for their community. They believed God’s promise from Isaiah 44:3: “I will pour water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground.”

Their prayers inspired others to seek God, and soon a small group of ministers and elders began meeting in a barn to pray through the night. At one of these meetings, a young man read Psalm 24 and declared, “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.” That night, the conviction of sin fell upon the community, and revival broke out.

Duncan Campbell, a visiting evangelist, described how entire villages would awaken in the middle of the night, gripped by the need to repent and seek God. People gathered spontaneously in churches, fields, and homes. Stories abound of people falling to their knees while working or walking, overwhelmed by God’s presence. The revival was marked by deep reverence, heartfelt repentance, and a hunger for God’s Word.

The Hebrides Revival shows the power of persistent, faith-filled prayer. Who can you be praying for?