Throughout history, God has used 40-day periods to accomplish His purposes.
- It rained for 40 days delivering Noah, his family and the animals from destruction.
- For 40 days, Moses was on Mount Sinai, face to face with God, receiving the Ten Commandments.
- The spies of the nation of Israel surveyed the promised land for 40 days.
- Jonah, in obedience, went to Ninevah proclaiming destruction in 40 days and inspired a revival in the sinful city.
- Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness overcoming temptation before beginning His earthly ministry.
- For 40 days, Jesus walked the earth after His resurrection, giving many "convincing proofs", speaking of the kingdom of God, and birthing the early church.
- Even in this century, Pastor Rick Warren influenced millions of people with his 40 day plan in his bestseller book, The Purpose Driven Life.
Well, 40 days from today is..... Christmas Day!
How will your next 40 days be spent?
Blessed..... or stressed?
Yesterday, I had a wonderful day with the women at Harvest Christian Fellowship in NYC, sharing this message at their annual Thanksgiving Women's Fellowship. Speaking on the subject of Thanksgiving, I felt led to share from Phil. 4:6-9 where Paul exhorts us to "not be anxious about anything.... but WITH THANKSGIVING... present our requests to God." We are approaching a period of time that each year is often filled with anxiety rather than thanksgiving. This may be a deliberate attempt of the enemy of our souls to distract us from the glorious truth that God came from heaven to earth so that God and sinner could be reconciled.
So, believing that God can do amazing things in your life over the next 40 days, I am sharing a challenge with you - that together we can each have a revival in our personal lives and can influence those around us to draw close to God as well.
My desire is not that you get into the Christmas spirit.....
but that you be filled with the Holy Spirit.
As you know, I don't usually post more than 2 times per week because I don't want to flood your inbox and because I don't want to drive my family or myself crazy to write more than that. However, I will be posting every day for the next 40 days! Why and how will I do this?
Why-
I want to partner together with you in this challenge to use these next 40 days as a time for renewal, restoration and revival. I will share devotions as well as practical tips to redeem this time as preparation for our coming King.
How-
Each day I will share either:
- Something old - a previous post of mine
- Something new - a newly written post
- Something borrowed - shared from another writer
- Nothing blue - all posts will be uplifting, motivating, encouraging, useful!
Will you join me in the 40 day challenge?
Will you commit to redeeming this time?
Will you let me know so that I can pray for you during this time?
Will you share your insights with me and my readers by leaving a comment?
Will you encourage others to walk this 40 day journey with us?
Lord, may those reading this today be encouraged to take this challenge with me and commit the next 40 days to draw closer to You, to not be influenced by the stresses in their world, to be blessed rather than stressed, to redeem this time, to glorify You with their words and their deeds.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Susan
15 comments:
What a wonderful way to start the holiday season! I'm in! I want to be blessed, not stressed! Thank you for the encouragement and the words of wisdom you have shared (and will share). :-)
im ready to be challenged. im in :)
Lauren
i am on that 40 day walk with you...can't wait!!
Jill
Good morning Susan.... I printed this out and am going to read it to the girls in work before our prayer meeting this morning,,,,I can see our stress levels rising as the season is approaching!!!! thanks for the good word,, have a blessed (not stressed)day!!!!!! Hugs Audrey
Susan,
I was sitting here thinking, hmmm I wonder why Susan hasn't emailed me anything. I thought you were going to email me something before you posted!!! I will post later tonight or tomorrow (it's our anniversary today).
We'll get some traffi over here. The Lord has great plans for this.
Love you!
Joanne
Good morning Susan!
First, my thanks to you for coming in to the City to bless our women on Saturday! I knew I’d be blessed, but I was excited to share you with them and we were not disappointed! Your friends were delightful.
God’s hand is everywhere, even in a little fellowship hall in midtown Manhattan!
I am joining you on the 40-day challenge and have recruited my colleague here at work as well. I’m also going to forward your offerings to my Mom in upstate New York to bless her this season.
Anyway, please pass on my regards to your family and I will look forward to walking toward our savior with you the next forty days and beyond!
Love and God bless,
Mina
Susan~
Love "not that you would be filled with the Christmas spirit but with the Holy Spirit".
Awesome!
That is what I want! Thank you!
Blessings,
Cheri
what a wonderful idea!
This is an awesome idea, bless you.
I'm in! 40 Days of Blessed, not stressed.
Jean
http://www.jeanmatthewhallwords.blogspot.com
When it comes right down to it, there is only one gift that really matters. It is the one sent by God on that first Christmas morning. He didn't care about the wrapping or the decorations - He cared about our hearts. Ever since that day, His enemy has been trying his darnedest to replace that perfect gift with other things. Yes, lets put Christ back into Christmas...
Count me in!
Peace and grace ~ Charlotte
Hi Susan,
This is such a Spirit driven idea. I love the concept. You know, the world is full of 30 day challenges. They are missing it by 10 days. Perhaps God knows something about using those extra 10 days to create a plan for success.
Thanks for sharing,
Sonya
Susan!
I love your commitment to rallying others up in preparation for Christ! Count me IN! I want to receive everything God has for me and I pray that for all His people. He longs to amaze us but we must intentionally come before Him with a seeking heart. Let's focus on the Father and watch our faith flourish!
Great idea. :-) I came over here from Susan R's blog.
The whole number thing is SO interesting.
Susan:
I also came here from Susan R's blog. I believe I will be blessed. If I am stressed, it will not be due to the hubbub of Christmas, but some other issues.
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