REVIVE US AGAIN

When we think about rest, we often are hoping for renewal…or maybe revival.  Our Hymn story this time recounts the unbelievable answer to a Godly mother’s prayer for her son!

W. P. Mackay is the author of the Hymn ‘REVIVE US AGAIN’, which he wrote in 1863. 

Mackay, tells the story of his mother who often told him of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Many times, he had witnessed her wrestling in prayer for his soul.  Yet nothing had made a deep impression and the older he grew, the more wicked he became.

He worked at a hospital and one day a seriously injured labourer was brought in.  It was a hopeless case and the injured patient seemed to realize it.  When asked if he had any relatives to be notified.  The patient shook his head…but did request that they contact his landlady so he could pay her some money he owed and he wanted to see if she would please bring him, “The Book…”

As Mackay would visit this patient often, he marveled at the quiet almost happy expression constantly on his face.  When the patient died, and they were cleaning out his room, Mackay discovered that the patient’s prized “book” was in fact the very Bible Mackay’s mother had given to him when he left home.  At one time, when he needed some money, he had sold it.  This patient’s special book…was his Bible…and it still had Mackay’s name in it written with love by his mother!!  Needless to say, the regained possession of his Bible was the cause of Mackay’s own spiritual revival!!