40 Days Of Prayer - Day 01
40 Days of Prayer
Devotion
40 days. What can happen in 40 days?
Seasons can change. Here in Canada, 40 days is enough to go from beaches and air conditioning to parkas and snow shovels.
In 40 days, Moses climbed Mount Sinia and returned with the 10 commandments. It was also enough time for the Israelites to abandon the God that had just miraculously freed them from 430 years of slavery and replace Him with an idol.
In 40 days, 12 Israelite spies checked out the promised land and reported back that it flowed with milk and honey. Ten of those spies concluded that the people who lived there were powerful and the cities fortified. “We cannot attack these people; they are stronger than we are”. But 2 spies came to a very different conclusion. They said “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
Numbers 14:2-3
"Grumbling against Moses and Aaron, the Israelites said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” "
Numbers 14:7-9
"Then the 2 spies said to the Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”"
The people’s response? They took up stones to kill the 2 spies.
God’s response? He led the Israelites into the promised land, but not until they spent another 40 years wandering in the wilderness during which time the whole generation of those who did not trust Him, passed away.
In the next 40 days, we are being invited to take the reports of our ‘spies’, (building team, builder, architect, Church leaders) and to pray about how we should respond. Will we step forward in trustful obedience to what God is calling us to do, or will we shrink back and let the next generation take possession of what God is promising us now?
Seasons can change. Here in Canada, 40 days is enough to go from beaches and air conditioning to parkas and snow shovels.
In 40 days, Moses climbed Mount Sinia and returned with the 10 commandments. It was also enough time for the Israelites to abandon the God that had just miraculously freed them from 430 years of slavery and replace Him with an idol.
In 40 days, 12 Israelite spies checked out the promised land and reported back that it flowed with milk and honey. Ten of those spies concluded that the people who lived there were powerful and the cities fortified. “We cannot attack these people; they are stronger than we are”. But 2 spies came to a very different conclusion. They said “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
Numbers 14:2-3
"Grumbling against Moses and Aaron, the Israelites said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” "
Numbers 14:7-9
"Then the 2 spies said to the Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”"
The people’s response? They took up stones to kill the 2 spies.
God’s response? He led the Israelites into the promised land, but not until they spent another 40 years wandering in the wilderness during which time the whole generation of those who did not trust Him, passed away.
In the next 40 days, we are being invited to take the reports of our ‘spies’, (building team, builder, architect, Church leaders) and to pray about how we should respond. Will we step forward in trustful obedience to what God is calling us to do, or will we shrink back and let the next generation take possession of what God is promising us now?
Prayer
"God show us what it means to walk in faith. Give us for courage to follow You into the ‘land’ You have prepared for us."
Written By: Jay Warner
Written By: Jay Warner