Lyrics
Verse 1
It takes a heart willing to receive
Willing to believe all mess it sees
It takes a fire willing to burn free
Willing to complete all the harder things
Pre-Chorus
So rise on up, trust the hand
That leads you to a better plan.
And there you’ll know it’s all you need
To prepare yourself to be set free
Chorus
Revival
It’s burning in me
Shaking the ground beneath my feet
Revival
It’s giving control
Not holding back do whatever I’m told
I’m on my face on bended knees
Crying out loud for my sin’s release
Revival
Where every dead thing breathes
The spirit’s power taking hold of me
Verse 2
It takes a soul praying through the dust
Dragging every fear and every broken trust
It takes a cry rising from the deep
Where the pain still bleeds and the darkness creeps
Pre-Chorus
So plant your feet, don’t you run
Let the light break out where the night’s begun
So stand your ground, hold the line
Don’t let your pride hold you behind
Chorus
Revival
It’s burning in me
Shaking the ground beneath my feet
Revival
It’s giving control
Not holding back do whatever I’m told
I’m on my face on bended knees
Crying out loud for my sin’s release
Revival
Where every dead thing breathes
The spirit’s power taking hold of me
Bridge
Strip me down to what is real
Take the parts I try to shield
Let Your fire consume the rest
’Til only You are beating in my chest
Shake these chains right off my bones
Break the grip of the lies I’ve known
Let your fist come and split my doubt
Spirit roar and drive it out
Chorus
Revival
It’s burning in me
Shaking the ground beneath my feet
Revival
It’s giving control
Not holding back do whatever I’m told
I’m on my face on bended knees
Crying out loud for my sin’s release
Revival
Where every dead thing breathes
The spirit’s power taking hold of me
Outro
The spirit’s power taking hold of me
Revival
Revival
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"Revival" is a prayer for spiritual renewal written in the language of fire and breath. The verses describe what revival requires, "a heart willing to receive," "a fire willing to burn free," and "a soul praying through the dust," and the chorus declares "It’s burning in me" and "Shaking the ground beneath my feet."
The prayer is personal and confessional. The singer is "on my face on bended knees," "Crying out loud for my sin’s release," asks to be stripped down to what is real, and invites God to let His fire "consume the rest" until "only You are beating in my chest." Later verses ask for chains to break and for doubt to be driven out by the Spirit.
The imagery of dead things breathing and the Spirit taking hold lines up with the vision of dry bones receiving breath in Ezekiel, the psalmist's plea for God to revive His people again, and the fire that rested on the early believers at Pentecost. The lyrics keep the focus on inward surrender, with revival described as something that begins in the individual.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 85:6 The psalmist asks God to revive His people again so they may rejoice in Him.
- Ezekiel 37:5 God promises to cause breath to enter the dry bones so they live.
- Acts 2:3-4 Tongues of fire rest on the believers as they are filled with the Holy Spirit.