Daily Christian Journey

A 40-Day Journey to Deeper Prayer

As we embark on the Lenten season, we’re invited to a profound journey of spiritual growth and self-reflection. At the heart of this journey is prayer – a powerful tool that connects us with our heavenly Father and transforms us from the inside out.

The Beauty of Prayer

Prayer is a sweet gift from God, a loving invitation to talk with Him, commune with Him, and abide in His presence. It’s a sacred space where our deepest worship, needs, and confessions intersect with the grandeur and glory of divine love. But for prayer to be truly effective, we need to understand that it’s not just about asking for things; it’s about submitting ourselves to a kingdom greater than our own.

Four Categories for Deeper Prayer

To help us navigate this 40-day journey, we can organize our prayers into four categories: Adoration, Confession, Submission, and Supplication.

• Adoration: Take time to meditate on the reasons why God is worthy of our worship. Study His Word, and let your heart be taken up with His splendor.
• Confession: As you gaze upon God’s holiness, you’ll see yourself with accuracy and mourn what you see. Confess your weaknesses, failures, and sin, knowing that God is forgiving and willing to rescue and restore.
• Submission: Submit the desires of your heart to a kingdom greater than your own. Surrender your gifts to the glory of someone else, and ask for the grace to submit.
• Supplication: Bring your needs before God, knowing that He is delighted to meet them. Pray for others, and let your supplications be as wide and huge as His kingdom is.

A Journey Worth Taking

This 40-day journey to deeper prayer requires study, meditation, and a willingness to submit ourselves to God’s plans and purposes. But know that God is tender, gracious, and understanding. He receives our messy prayers, hears our brief prayers on the fly, and warmly answers our weak and faltering prayers.

So why not accept the invitation to this journey? Let’s embark on this 40-day adventure, and discover the transformative power of prayer in our lives.