Hello my dear PEPpers and far flung family and friends!
Each year at the FMCOG we observe at the first of the year a season of forty days of prayer and fasting. It is a special time of the year where we give ourselves in an intense way to seeking God and putting Him first in our year and more importantly in our lives.
This year as I’m preparing myself for this special season I thought I’d research why forty days of prayer and fasting matters. Especially the “forty” part. Why forty days? In this busy, fast-paced life of 21st century living couldn’t we do this in less time? Perhaps, but there is a lot of biblical precedent for giving ourselves 40-days to allow God to work in our lives. As you walk through the bible it appears that the number 40 is an optimal time for God. For example:
1) Reason Number One: Forty days allows time for God to truly cleanse and renew you.
- Genesis 7:4 (NKJV) For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.
Too many, the Flood seems like overkill. It may seem like killing a fly with a torpedo. But God understood the horrible progression of sin and knew that if there was to be hope for planet earth that drastic measures must be taken.
Perhaps the same is true in your life. This 40-days could be a season of cleansing and recalibrating your life. Perhaps your 2010 was like mine. Little by little I allowed lesser things to take me away from the important things. I substituted good things for the best thing. Finally drastic measures were required and so I stood up on November 14, 2010 and asked my congregation’s prayerful indulgence in allowing me some time to get away and recalibrate my life. I didn’t have it planned that way, but forty days later it was Christmas Eve. On the next day I celebrated Christmas and I can truly say that Jesus Christ has been born afresh and anew in my life. Those forty days was a drastic measure but I’d do it all over again just to have the fresh and new relationship with Jesus Christ that I am now experiencing.
As you’ve been reading this perhaps you’re realizing that you need to step aside for a season and allow God to flood your life with his presence and power. I promise you, the cleansing and refreshing will be worth any sacrifice that you may pay during this season of 40-days of prayer and fasting.
Over the next few weeks, I continue this theme. In the meantime, I invite all of you to mark your calendar on January 19, 2011. That will be our official beginning of 40-days. You do not have to be a member of the FMCOG to participate. God’s flood of cleansing and renewal is worldwide!
Blessings and best wishes,
david l. kemp
The ONE THING 
Hey Pastor,
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Looking forward to joining with you and others as we enter the 40 day fast. My mom and I plan to attend each service again this year (although I do have a commitment for 2/17-19 that is related to a friend’s church). You know, I was crumbling within why forty days knowing of several other churches that are only doing twenty-one. 🙂 Glad you shared your position and trust your leadership.
Want so much to be a part of the continued work of the Holy Spirit in our church. Believing for His sweet presence to move in, around, and through our body.
Thankful for all you do.
In Him,
Ginger
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We can’t wait for 40 days to start and excited to see what the Lord is going to do. Thank you Pastor for continuing to do the 40 days every year. It is a blessing….Love Ann& Joe
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