40 Days of Prayer
Each year we take the forty days leading up to Easter Sunday as a period of focused prayer together as a church, and this year there are four ways we want you to join in:
PRAY THROUGH THE 40 DAYS PRAYER GUIDE
This year’s 40 Days of Prayer guide is structured around the “one another” commands from the New Testament. For each day of prayer, you’ll see a verse for that day, followed by a prayer focus from that verse. Along the way, you’ll notice that each week will include at least one “love one another” verse—that’s because there are so many of these verses in the New Testament! This is the “new commandment” given to us by Jesus, that we would love one another just as he has loved us (John 13:34). “Love one another” is the primary “one another” command, and every other “one another” command is helping us know how to love one another well!
We’re praying through these commands, instead of just teaching them, because we recognize the truth of John 15:5: “Apart from me,” Jesus said, “you can do nothing.” At the same time, Jesus also told us “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:7–8). We’re asking him to help us love and serve and honor and encourage one another (and more!), trusting that he’ll bring about that fruit in us, and God will get the glory.
Hard copies are available in the MCBC Welcome Center, or you can download a digital copy below.
PRAY FOR YOUR ONE
In the hard copy of the prayer guide, be sure to write the first name of someone who is far from God in the blank in the top margin on each set of pages, and make it a point to pray for that person by name each day in these 40 Days. Ask God to shine the light of the gospel in his or her life (2 Corinthians 4:4–6), to send someone to that person with the gospel (Matthew 9:37–38), and even to open doors for you to be the one to share the good news with that person (Colossians 4:3–4). Look for opportunities during these days to share the gospel and to invite that person to join us at MCBC.
READ 5 THINGS TO PRAY
Also available in our Welcome Center is the book 5 Things To Pray for the People You Love. This little book by Rachel Jones is an excellent tool to help your prayer life by showing you biblical prayers to pray over all the different people in your life. Read this book and let it shape how you pray.
FAST AND PRAY ON THURSDAYS
Additionally, consider setting aside Thursdays as a day for fasting and prayer. If you are not familiar with the practice of fasting, take a few minutes to read this blog post from our Pastors’ Blog on fasting. If you’re able, consider spending these days, or other days during the 40 Days, to seek the Lord through fasting and prayer.
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