40 Days of Prayer: Following in His Steps

If we walk in the light, as he is in the light
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
1 John 1:7

In the next 40 days I want to challenge you to set aside some time each day where you can be alone and undisturbed with God for a time of prayer, scripture reading and reflection. The focus for these next 40 days will be to strengthen our commitment to Christ. Following Christ requires a total reorientation of our will to His. Through these readings, meditations, and prayer, I hope that each of us will examine ourselves to see any areas where we may not have been fully devoted to Christ. The first and most important command Jesus gave to each of us is His simple invitation: "Come follow me" (Matthew 4:19). Accept His invitation to follow Him, fully trusting in his love and power to enable you to give yourself completely to Him.

Be sure to read each daily scripture first; listening to what God is saying to you in that passage. Then ask yourself the hard questions about how you are or are not living the truth revealed in these verses. Lastly spend time in prayer and meditation about your relationship as a follower of Christ, asking God's help to become a more fully devoted follower.

Day 1 - Nov. 14 1 Peter 2:21-23 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.