40 Days of Prayer

Day 40 - Easter Sunday

He Is Risen!

He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon!’ Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! – Revelations 22:20

Arising from the dead, Jesus has shown us that there is no wound too deep, no scar too unbearable that He cannot heal. As we await His triumphant return, He is still ‘binding up the broken-hearted, proclaiming freedom for the captives and releasing from darkness the prisoners.’

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Holy Saturday

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ... – Titus 2:13

Imagine living in a world without hope – a world without Jesus. This is exactly how the disciples must have felt between the hopelessness of Good Friday and the hope that came on Easter Sunday. Across the world, we have many Christian brothers and sisters who are living in this state of hopelessness, fear, confusion and, in many situations, persecution. Today, let us choose to enter in compassion – to ‘suffer with’ our brothers and sisters. Pray that they experience the hope of Christ afresh.

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Day 39 - Good Friday

Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last. – Luke 23:44-49

Today, we invite you to read Luke 23: 44-49. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate example of His unfailing love for us. It was the world’s attempt to silence Him from proclaiming good news to the poor, setting the captives free, bringing sight to the blind and giving hope to the oppressed. Praise God that this was not the end of His story. Thank God that through Jesus’ sacrifice, we can live in freedom with Him forever. Pray for Rosa and other vulnerable children, Care Workers, Primary Caregivers across Africa, churches and Hands at Work volunteers to truly understand the weight of His sacrifice. Pray that we learn, through Jesus’ example, what it means to lay down our lives as a living sacrifice.

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Day 38 - Jesus' Final Days - Carrying The Cross

Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?” – Luke 23:28-31

Today we invite you to read Luke 23:26-43. Imagine the pain Jesus must have endured as he carried His cross. As individuals, running towards pain, suffering and persecution is something we often avoid. Pray that God will give us the courage and strength to take up our cross with humility and perseverance. Pray the same for our Care Workers across Africa who daily run towards these things on behalf of the children they care for.

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Day 37 - Jesus' Final Days - The Trial

‘What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked them. ‘Crucify him!’ they shouted. ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’ – Mark 15:12-14

Today we invite you to read Mark 14: 53-65 and 15: 1-15. Reflecting on the passages, imagine what it would have been like to have been in the crowd during Jesus’ trial. Pray that God reveals to you the judgment or condemnation that you have cast on someone else. Spend time in silence, praying for forgiveness and restoration in your own life and in the lives of others.

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Day 36 - Jesus' Final Days - The Arrest

Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, ‘Who is it you want?’ ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ they replied. ‘I am he,’ Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, ‘I am he,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. - John 18: 4-6

Today we invite you to read John 18: 3-12. As you read these words, take time to reflect on each verse. Jesus knew what was going to happen to him and he willingly surrendered to the soldiers. He did not want his disciples to put up a fight. Here he gives us beautiful examples of what it means to show love for our enemies. Would we have done the same? Take time to reflect on these verses and spend time with your Father.

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