40-Day Prayer Challenge // Day 1
Scripture reveals the Father set aside 40-day periods of time to confront, and to challenge His children to draw closer to Him.
- For 40 days and 40 nights the rain fell before the flood. (Genesis 7:4)
- For 40 days the spies explored the land of Canaan. (Numbers 13:2, 25)
- For 40 years, the Hebrews wandered in the wildnerness, a year for each of the 40 days they explored the promised land. (Numbers 14:33-34, 32:13)
- For three consecutive 40 days and 40 nights Moses met with God on Mt. Sinai. (Deuteronomy 9:11, 25, 10:10)
- For 40 days, twice a day, Goliath challenged Israel. (1 Samuel 17:16)
- For 40 days and 40 nights Jesus prayed and fasted. (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2)
- There are 40 days between the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. (Acts 1:3)
Easter Challenge: For the next 40 days, prepare your heart for the celebration of Easter Sunday, by drawing closer to the Father, and by praying for someONE who needs to draw closer to Him.
Prayer is the priority. The early disciples saw Jesus perform great miracles for them, but they asked Him to give them the one thing they needed the most: “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
It’s not a matter of making more time to pray, but learning to SET ASIDE time to pray each day. Someone you know needs to be saved. Someone you know needs to be invited to join you for Easter services.
If you are frustrated that you haven’t seen a breakthrough with your one yet, I want to encourage you to P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens!). Pray for someone. People are not won to Christ by powerful sermons, beautiful music, or impressive facilities. They are won to Christ through prayer.
Prayer for the Day: Father, thank you for saving me, through the death of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I call upon Your Holy Spirit, who dwells within me, to bring to my mind, and to place upon my heart, the name of someONE who needs to be saved, and someONE I can invite to join me for the Easter services of my church.
I know well that when Christ is nearest, Satan is busiest.
—Robert Murray M’Cheyne