40 Days of Prayer

By Tom Cox

Andrew Murray states that as long as we look at prayer chiefly as the means of maintaining our own Christian life, we shall not know completely what prayer was meant to be. When we regard prayer as the highest part of the work God has entrusted to us, it becomes the root and strength of all else we do.

A mighty movement of God's Spirit at Central cannot happen by great plans alone. It is prayer that brings the Power of God into 40 Days of Purpose and ultimately results in changed lives.

If good plans and good leaders are the campaign's engine: then prayer is the fuel.

We view prayer as the foundation of preparation for 40 Days of Purpose, so we kneel before God. We pray with the knowledge that Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-11). Jesus prayed frequently, so one of His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. The disciples saw the connection between Christ's public life and His prayer life. Prayer is the channel of all blessings and the secret of the power in Christian lives.

Therefore we declare our need and dependence upon God through prayer. We prayerfully lead by modeling, believing that prayer does make a difference.

We admit that it is only when the church gives herself up to the holy work of intercessory prayer that we can expect the power of Christ to manifest itself in our lives and the life of the church.

• As we prepare for the 40 Days campaign, pray that God will make this a defining moment in the life of Central Presbyterian.
• Pray also that this upcoming spiritual journey will deepen our church's faith and prayer experience.
• Pray for all our church leaders and their efforts up to and during the 40 Days campaign. May it be the will of God that this campaign bring fruit of the spirit to our church.
• Finally, pray for God's protection against distractions, worries, problems and concerns of this world, so that everyone involved in the campaign is able to focus completely on finding what God's purpose is for each one of us.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." (Ephesians 1:18)