Prayer Challenge – Day 1 (an introduction)

The vision is to see everyone in WCV walk in a daily awareness and anticipation of God’s presence, and to see that awareness and reality spill out to those around them. We’ll start with a 30-day challenge: Pray 3 times a day for 30 days.

When we set aside time, seek God’s heart, and get a sense of his vision for our lives, our communities and our neighbourhoods, big things can happen. That’s what happened for Daniel. His prayer life set the stage for some life-saving miracles.

For us, there may not be physical lions waiting to devour us, but the call to pray is no less urgent today than it was in Daniel’s time and our lions can be just as deadly. We believe God will do amazing things among us as we devote ourselves to him in this way, together. When his children turn their hearts and attention towards him, he will respond (it’s a promise).

There are three movements of prayer that we’re inviting you to consider during these 30 days.

3 Times a Day – MORNING, DAYTIME & EVENING

Morning:

The morning is full of promise for the day ahead. It’s about looking forward into the future. In the morning ask God what his vision is for you today. What would he like to say to you, show you, and invite you to participate in? Throughout the prayer challenge, we will offer suggestions about what to pray for or think about. But feel free to set it up in a way that works for you.

“I pray that the eyes of my heart be enlightened to know the hope of my calling.” Ephesians 1:19

Daytime:

The day is all about the present and living out the vision you received in the morning. This is when we put flesh to our prayers – the “walking it out” part of prayer. Throughout your day, look for signs of what God spoke in the morning, and/or answers to your morning’s prayers. You may want to be very practical and set an alarm at a particular time during the day to pray. There may also be some kind of action that you’ll need to engage in or there may be some kind of prayer that you’ll need to pray. Whatever it is, make it specific.

“The eyes of the Lord move back and forth across the earth, searching for those whose hearts are truly his, so that he may strongly support them.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

Evening:

The evening is about reflection. After it’s all said and done, look back in gratitude. Thank God for, not only his presence with you today, but for what he showed you, what he spoke to you, how he revealed himself to you. Maybe you have a sense of completion, perhaps something is birthing in you that will take years to come to fruition. Whatever the case, you’re a day closer now. Keep faithful, keep at it, be thankful, write it down – and rest.

“Whatever was true, fitting, extraordinary, pure, beautiful, won my respect” Philippians 4

“Write it down on tablets.”

This is what God told Habakkuk to do with his prayers. Something happens when we put our prayers and prayerful thoughts into writing. Consider keeping some kind of journal for these 30 days. We all need a record to refer to. Most of our memories are short, especially when it comes to prayer. So, whether you’re inclined towards pen & paper, painting a picture, a magazine collage, some other kind of creative (or non-creative) reflection, or an actual tablet, make sure you do something. You won’t be disappointed. For today, let’s simply ask God to reveal himself to us over the course of this 30-Day Prayer Challenge!