“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

All throughout the Bible we see people growing with God whenever they set aside 40 days to journey with Him. That's one of the reasons behind the plan below - that we might find out what it means to take an active part in His Story. By intentionally using this plan, your prayers will connect with what the Lord is up to and just might find yourself stronger and more courageous to reach out to the lost and broken.

The plan is to regularly pray each day using the prescribed focus, each designed to move you beyond your own concerns. Whether you pray out-loud or silently, you're essentially asking the Lord to reveal His kingdom through us “on earth as it is in heaven.” In doing so you will actually become connected through prayer to what God is doing in the lives of others - people who have yet to follow Christ as well as Christians who need to wake up to the fully-alive life Jesus Christ invites all of us into.

Let's get this party started!

Day 1-10: Praying for Christ:
Read and consider Colossians 2:1-5 each day.
Day 1 Praise God for providing a way to Him – how is your connection strong/weak?
Day 2 Return to Jesus as your Lord over all – what needs to be surrendered to Him?
Day 3 Ask God to move you one more step beyond being a spiritual spectator.
Day 4 Yield to the role Jesus longs to play in the finances He's given you to manage.
Day 5 Pray for God to “deepen your roots” in Christ and show you your role in that.
Day 6 Praise God out loud or on paper for all the reasons you have to be grateful.
Day 7 Return to the last thing the Holy Spirit asked you to do… and do it.
Day 8 Ask God to make you more aware of His presence & intentionally look for Him.
Day 9 Yield to Christ & His resurrection power any habits/attitudes/sins you feel stuck in.
Day 10 Pray for Jesus to have leadership in all your relationships – and follow Him.

 

Day 11-20: Praying for church:
Read and consider Acts 2:42-47 each day.
Day 11 Praise God for how he works perfectly in a community of imperfect people.
Day 12 Return to believing in the potential Jesus has for His church– to be His “plan-A-and-no-plan-B” means of telling the world all about the Life He offers.
Day 13 Ask Christ to impress the full-reality of His presence and power upon everyone who has ever been a part of Connection Church – any age or walk of life.
Day 14 Yield to what it means that you don't “go to church” – you ARE the Church!
Day 15 Pray for us to be the Church by developing new Christians & better Christians.
Day 16 Praise God for the other churches in our area who love Him and teach Truth.
Day 17 Return every resource God has given you back to Him by asking if/how He'd like to use it within His organized movement called Connection Church.
Day 18 Ask God to help you care for anyone in His church who might've slipped through the cracks.
Day 19 Yield to size of the building & parking lot we use when the church gathers – ask God to fill it with people, and even more people, until He is pleased!
Day 20 Pray for new people to serve in and through Jesus' church – starting with you.

 

Day 21-30: Praying for community:
Read and consider 1 Peter 2:9-12 each day.
Day 21 Praise God for any/all of the opportunities and open doors you have in your life to rub shoulders with other people.
Day 22 Return to an awareness of where your family is at with God & how are to help.
Day 23 Ask Christ to show you what the next step of action on your part is to join Him in what He's doing in the community – then take a step in that direction today.
Day 24 Yield to any way God wants you to be a part of healing a broken relationship.
Day 25 Pray for abusive spouses/parents/siblings to turn to Christ and stop that behavior.
Day 26 Praise God & pray for His wisdom for those who serve the community in civic roles.
Day 27 Return to God's plan for marriages –pray for those who are hurt by divorce as well as anyone pondering it to follow the Lord and not react to circumstances.
Day 28 Ask Christ to bring godly change to every household in our region - including yours.
Day 29 Yield to becoming the kind of co-worker or neighbor Jesus dreams you will be.
Day 30 Pray for God to help people without income to meet their financial needs – one way or another (even if that means you're a part of it).

 

Day 31-40: Praying for culture:
Read and consider Acts 1:1-11 each day.
Day 31 Praise God for those in Hollywood who live for Jesus and use their talents for Him.
Day 32 Return your attention/prayers to global needs of hunger and care for orphans.
Day 33 Ask Christ to impact the next election – that people would vote not based on a particular party but as they pray to the Lord and how He leads them.
Day 34 Yield to a whole new way of taking care of God's planet – reduce, reuse, recycle.
Day 35 Pray to see every person in every lifestyle as someone to love in the name of Jesus.
Day 36 Praise God for His goodness in tragic times – ask how you can help point it out.
Day 37 Return to the trash any books/videos/magazines/etc that present a distorted view of sexuality.
Day 38 Ask God to raise up a whole new generation of Christians who love Him completely.
Day 39 Yield to the adventure Jesus invites you into – to “make disciples of all nations.”
Day 40 Pray for the negative statistics to change because Christians take God and love seriously - commit yourself back to Him, your spouse/family, and His church.