Why 40 Days?

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Throughout the Bible the number 40 seems to have a special spiritual significance. When the flood came in Noah’s day, it rained 40 days and nights.  Israel wandered in the desert and ate heaven-sent manna for 40 years. Moses fasted and prayed in Jehovah’s presence for 40 days and nights. Israel’s spies explored the Promised Land for 40 days. Jonah gave the city of Nineveh 40 days to repent or be destroyed. Most importantly, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting, praying, and combating Satan.

For the 3rd year, we as a community of believers in El Dorado and Union County are uniting to follow the example of Jesus by spending 40 days together in concentrated, coordinated prayer. Join the prayer movement by using each day’s scripture, observation and prayer as a guide while you pray to God for at least five minutes a day over the next 40 days.  These daily guides have been prepared by over 20 local ministry leaders.

For an even greater focus and impact, ministers are suggesting a day of fasting on the 1st, 20th, and 40th days of the campaign. Those who choose to participate in the fast are in good company when we look at scripture: Moses (Ex. 34:27-28), The Israelites (Judges 20:26), David (II Sam. 12:15-16), Ahab (I Kings 21:27, 29), Ezra (Ezra 8:21-23, 31-32), Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:4-11), Daniel (Daniel 9:3-4), Joel (Joel 1:14; 2:12,15), The City of Nineveh (Jonah 3:4-9), Zechariah (Zechariah 8:19), Jesus (Matthew 4:1-2), Cornelius (Acts 10:30-32), and Paul and Barnabus (Acts 13:1-3).

One final note: Please plan to attend the Community Prayer Walk scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2017.  We’ll meet at 6:30 PM at the El Dorado Police Department.  We’ll pray together at the Police Department, then at City Hall, the El Dorado School District Central Office, and finally the Union County Court House.

Why Pray?

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“Imagine yourself in a dark room. Windows closed. Curtains drawn. Shutters shut. In the darkness it’s hard to believe there’s daylight beyond the drapes. So you grope and try to feel your way across the floor. You take a step, disoriented and unsure where you’re headed. Progress is slow and the journey painful. Stubbed toes, bruised shins, broken vases. It’s hard to walk in a dark place.

Harder still to walk in a dark world.

But many try. And, as a result, many are wounded in the effort: tripping over problems, bumping into one another in the shadows, ramming into walls.

But occasionally one of us makes a discovery. Reaching through the blackness, a hand finds curtains and a window latch. “Hey, everybody! The walls have windows!” The drapes are pulled back and the window opened. The sun floods into the room. What was dark is now bright. What was opaque is now clear. What was stale is now fresh. With the light comes a peace, a power, a desire to move closer to the light, and a confidence to step forward. Our timid steps are replaced by a certainty to our walk. A certainty to move through the corridors of life, opening one window after another to illuminate. What a difference! And all it took was one small gesture of opening curtains and raising the window.

Prayer does the same thing for us. Prayer is the window that God has placed in the walls of our world. Leave it shut and the world is a cold, dark house.

But throw back the curtains and see His light. Open the window and hear His voice. Open the window of prayer and invoke the presence of God in your world.”

– written by Max Lucado, ‘Open the Windows’

2017 40 Days of Prayer in El Dorado and Union County, Arkansas

We are calling the church in El Dorado and Union County to take the 40 day challenge from October 1 until November 9, to draw closer to God, to expand our sphere of influence and to see our community won for Jesus.

Together we have an opportunity to throw back the curtains in our city and allow God’s light to penetrate the darkness.

Together we will petition Heaven on behalf of those we love.

We resolve to pray for boldness to share our faith with family, work colleagues, neighbors and friends. We will be faithful to pray for their salvation and ready to be used by the Holy Spirit to tell of God’s goodness and to invite them to be part of God’s family.

We are engaging in prayer, believing God for an increase in the church in El Dorado and therefore an increase in His kingdom.

If you use Facebook, Twitter or other social media, please help us get the word out there.  Wouldn’t it be great if every day there were posts and tweets letting people know about the church in El Dorado rising up in prayer together?  

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” –II Chronicles 7:14

Day 40 – Wednesday, Nov 9 (Fasting)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

-Ephesians 6:10-13
OBSERVATION: Pray for the restoration of good people
PRAYER: Father, as we close our 40 days of prayer, we pray for the people of our community to stand up for what is right and put their faith in action. Give us a spirit of boldness, working with all of Your Energy (Colossians 1:29), to accomplish Your Will for our community.

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Day 39 – Tuesday, Nov. 8

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

-II Chronicles 7:14
OBSERVATION: We thank God today for the privilege of living in this land of liberty, where we may worship freely. We pray that we might use our freedom to be salt and light in our nation and in our world.
PRAYER: Father, today we pray for our nation as we head to the polls. May we elect those who hold the values found in scripture. We pray for those in leadership positions that they will seek the Your Will in their daily lives and in the causes they champion.

 

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Day 38 – Monday, Nov. 7, 2016

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. -John 16:33

OBSERVATION: In the days leading up to the election, we need assurance that our hope is in our Savior and not in the government.
PRAYER: Father, we pray for the state of our nation. We pray for the election and for all involved. Father, we acknowledge that You are in control and that regardless of who wins the election, our hope, faith and trust is in the One who has overcome the world!

Day 37 – Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them.

 -Psalm 145:18-19

OBSERVATION: What a blessing it is to serve and pray to a God who is always there!
PRAYER: Thank you, Father, for the amazing blessing of being able to talk to You at any time with the confidence that You are near, You care, and You are willing and able to answer our petitions. We especially thank You for the mediation of Jesus, our High Priest, who speaks on our behalf when we approach Your throne; and for the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us when we do not even know what we ought to pray for.

Day 36 – Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

 -Romans 12:9-10

OBSERVATION: The marks of a Christian should be obvious to those living in darkness.

PRAYER: Father, help us to live out our faith in tangible ways and may our walk be consistent with our talk. Forgive us when our walk and talk do not match and give us the wisdom to see the difference.

Day 35 – Friday, Nov. 4, 2016

For the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty 

-II Corinthians 3:17
OBSERVATION: Jesus said: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted; To proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18). Jesus came to set free all those oppressed by the enemy, however, there is a truth in relation to the spiritual oppression, the Apostle Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 6: 12 he says that we are fighting against principalities, against rulers of darkness and against spiritual wickedness in high places.
PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus we pray that your Spirit is poured out on the town, every home, every congregation to express your power and bring freedom to those who suffer oppression where their lives are captive by the will of the devil, your presence and anointing bring freedom in the name of Jesus. We come against spirit that brings destruction to the families, divorces, violence, rebellion, immorality, disobedience, and every stronghold brought by the enemy in the precious name of Jesus, amen.

Day 34 – Thursday, Nov. 3

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

 -Romans 12:1-2 NASB
OBSERVATION: Those who have put their faith in Jesus are given the task to not conform to the world and its ideals but to stand out and be different for Christ. Every day we are called to present ourselves to God, sacrificing our wants and desires and renewing our mind on His word to do His will. In a world that is all about doing what everyone else wants, let us be determined to do what God wants!
PRAYER: Father, please bless me with the strength to stand out of the crowd and be different for you. Please help me use the gifts You’ve blessed me with to lead others to You. I need Your help Father to stay focused on You. I love You, Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.