40 Days of Stillness + Free Lent Prayer Guide

Have you considered this bold invitation from God: “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations” (Ps. 46:10, NIV)?

In the frenetic craziness of our world, what might happen if you, me and millions of people accepted God’s challenge and found time to “be still’” with him, even for a few minutes?

What if we all did it on the same days, for 40 consecutive days, in anticipation of the greatest day in human history, Easter Sunday? What might God say to us? What might he be planning to do “among the nations”?

Similar to the Advent season anticipating Christmas and the coming of Jesus to our world, the Lenten season anticipates Jesus’ resurrection to become the living Savior of our world.

While the Lenten tradition is based on Jesus’ 40 days of fasting and spiritual battle in the desert following his baptism (Matthew 4:1-11), we find similar 40-day journeys throughout scripture. Moses enjoyed 40-day encounters with God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:18; Deut. 9:15-18; Exodus 34:28), and later, Elijah hiked for 40 days to meet with God on the same mountain (1 Kings 19:7-8).

What might be the potential for you and me of a little daily time with God during Lent 2016?

Throughout history, God often responds in significant ways when his people earnestly seek him. Remember his promise that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV).

Last month, I stood with a TEAM missionary in Zimbabwe alongside a field of hand-planted corn, which was drooping due to lack of rain. It was rainy season, but there was no rain. Last year’s crop had been lost to drought, and another lost crop this year would be devastating. Some local farmers had gone to the local witch doctors, seeking demonic help. We prayed, asking the living God to show his unique power and open the heavens with rain. Within four hours, it was raining, and it continued a gentle, ground-soaking rain for two days. All glory to God for answering our prayers.

I’m inviting you to join me and many others around the world in a fresh encounter with God this Lenten season. It may change our lives and unleash an outpouring of God’s power globally. We’ve prepared a prayer guide that will help you visit a different part of the world each day as we pray for God’s powerful work in and through our global missionaries and ministries.

You can download your free prayer guide below. Print it and tuck it in your Bible as a reminder to intercede daily.

“Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations.” Come on, let’s try it! The risen Jesus invites us to join him as he intercedes (Romans 8:34).

Lent begins February 10, and you can download your free Lent prayer guide here. Print it in full today or select the option for a weekly Lent prayer guide to be sent directly to your inbox every Monday during Lent.