40 days student version

8/7/2019 40 Days Student Version

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“Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great

and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

New American Standard Bible



What is 40 days? In just slightly over a month, you will lookback and see how far you‟ve come in your relationshipwith Christ. We will journey together through the word ofGod, struggle through some tough stuff and pray together

and for each other. Here‟

s the three main ideas:

Read it .Spending time in God‟s Word is important. Thisbook has a guide to help you organize your reading

time.

Go without it .Pick a day every week to fast. Not sure whatfasting is? We‟ll explain it for you.

Pray about it .Sometimes praying can be really difficult, but it‟simportant that we spend time talking to God. Justlike in any other relationship, if you don‟t talk, yougrow apart. Check out the next page if you need alittle extra help praying.



Pray about it.The disciples weren’t really sure how they should pray. So they asked

Jesus. He told them:

“This is how you should pray : „Our Father in heaven,may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon.May your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,and forgive us our sins,as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don‟t let us yield to temptation,but rescue us from the evil one.

When you pray, start out worshiping God. Follow with

praying for God’

s will and then you talk to him abouthings in your life and your needs. Then ask forfor your sins and for the sins of others. Tel

him about your temptations and struggles and askhim to help you overcome them. Conclude your timewith the Creator by worshiping him some more. This

is a really great way of structuring your prayers andwill help keep you focused and feeling satisfied.

Watch a great video on prayer :www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JCEEepkdn

or search nooma019open



When I was younger, my family had a beach house in South Carolina. We’d go

there every other summer with my cousins and grandparents and aunts and

uncles. Every morning, my Nana would get all the grandkids together right as the

sun was coming up and we’d go down to the shore to see what awesome things

washed up over the night. The summer I was 7, my cousins and I decided it wouldbe a good idea to jump in the ocean. Poor, sweet, southern Nana could do

nothing to stop us. We all ran for the waves fully clothed, entranced by their

awesomeness and unaware of the early morning dangers of swimming in the

ocean. We were all having a blast for about 10 minutes, and then I got caught in

the undertow. At first I didn’t know what was going on. I thought maybe I’d just

float to the top like usual, but then another wave came and another one until I

didn’t know which way was up. My head would break the surface and then

another wave would hit. I thought I was going to drown. Someone, probably my

big brother (who was 9), grabbed me and we got out of the water, much to

Nana’s pleasure. I will never, EVER forget that experience. -Kristen

Another very real danger faces you every day. There is a moral undertow that

surrounds you on a day to day basis. It’s hard to live for Jesus when everything and

every one around you is swimming in the opposite direction. It’s easy to get

caught up in what every one else is doing. Eventually, you just give up and

eventually drown. The further you get away from Christ, the harder it is to get back

to him.

It’s like the swimmer who gets exhausted trying to fight the current and get back

to shore. You, as a follower of Christ, have to look beyond your own strength and

personal capabilities to the only One who can provide help and strength in a

critical time of need. Don’t give in. Fight the undertow.

In times of desperation, God delights to speak. In exhaustion from the fight, we

stop talking and begin to listen. And in times of fasting, often God shouts!!

Ever been caught in the undertow?



Gowitho tit.

Do you ever ask God questions? Have you ever just really

wanted to hear from him? Does it sometimes seem like

there are situations in your life that just seem out of your

control? Don’t worry. God wants to give you the answers toyour questions. He wants to give you direction. He wants to

help you out.

Simply put, fasting is denying yourself of pleasures in order

to honor and grow closer to God. Over time, our hearts can

get filled up with junk and fasting is a great way to get

cleaned up. God wants to have a relationship with you. He

wants to help you clean all the junk out and He is patiently

waiting for you to take the first step.

So let’s get walkin’…

fasting : explained

Fasting doesn’t just have to be going without food. It

giving up anything in your life that’s difficult to give up. Yocan try to go without for the whole 40 days, or just try on

day a week. Your fast is entirely up to you and Jesus. Pra

about it. Be brave. Give it up. Here are some examples

things you can fast.

.facebook .cappucinos .starbucks .internet .cheeseburgers .xbox

.world of warcraft .halo (reach) .fiction .caffine .soda .lunch .dinner

.breakfast .smoothies .music .call of duty .texting .ipod .cell phones



what’snext?

Now that you‟ve decided to fast :: set a date

: pick a place that you will go to be alone with Go: write down some questions you‟d like to ask Him

THEHISTORYOFFASTING Throughout history, fasting was the means through which many chose to seekGod. Jesus fasted for a full forty days before entering the public phase of hisearthly ministry. Kings and queens humbled themselves during a fast to seek themind and heart of God on issues critical to them and the nations they ruled. So

was the case with David, Solomon, and Queen Esther.

Questions posed by opportunity, need, confusion, and crisis prompted others likeMoses, Ezra, Nehemiah, the prophets, and those in the early church to proclaim afast to seek answers from God. In light of national crises, whole nations werecalled to fast to seek the intervention of God.

Fasting to many has been that weekly, monthly, or annual appointment withGod to worship and praise. And while we may not be willing to consider a forty-

day fast, the challenge is to suggest you sacrifice for the purpose of allowing theGod of heaven to speak to our issues, to answer our questions, to comfort,encourage, convict, and remind us of who He is and how much He wants to beinvolved in our lives.

Several passages in God‟s Word speak specifically to the issue of fasting. Here aresome that you might want to take a look at as you think about making fasting apart of your personal walk with Him:

Ezra 8:21-23, 10:6 Nehemiah 1:4 Esther 4:16 Job 33:19, 20 Psalm 69:10; 102:4Isaiah 58:6 Daniel 9:3; 20-23; 10:3 Joel 2:15 Exodus 34:28 Deuteronomy 9:9; 182 Samuel 12:16-17 Matthew 4:2; 6:16; 9:15 Acts 13:3; 12:23 1 Corinthians 7:52 Corinthians 11:27-28 Jonah 3:5, 10.



Fasting is a good time to ask God some

difficult questions. Right them down here.Pra about them later.

Where are you?

Why did you let them die?



You can also use this time to pray for specific needs in your life,or for other people you know could use a prayer or two. Writedown the needs of friends, family members, and yourself. Use thispage to help you remember to pray for them.

my needs:



Determine the place you will go fo

the time in which you have chosen tofast. This place should be one where

you can be alone, where you will no

be interrupted, and where your fu

attention can be focused on God

Remove all distractions!!

Some people choose a quiet place

outside, a favorite spot, a room in the

house that offers seclusion. (Thebathroom counts too, if that’s the

only place you can get some

privacy!) If you are away from home

at the time you have appointed, yo

might go to your car or a nearb

park. The focus of your attentio

should be on God and upo

deepening your relationship with Him

The Bible should be the center of your times alone with God. He has revealed Himself

in the Word and continues to speak into your life through the indwelling Spirit. He

never speaks contrary to the truth revealed in Scripture. Some people who fast

choose to concentrate on one or two passages of Scripture that address the

particular issues that they confront. You may want to identify passages of God’s word

that you believe are relevant to your need. Ask a parent or youth pastor to help you

if you’re not sure what passages to focus on.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll bereading through the gospels together.

Check out the reading plan onthe next page.

REadiT



The Gospels in 30 Days

7: Matthew 7; Luke 7; John 7

Luke 20; John 20

tthew 27; Mark 8; Mark 9



Fasting

stories:When I was 17, I was in a pretty stupid relationship. I knewsomewhere deep inside that God didn‟t approve and that I should getout as soon as possible. The more that reality sunk in, the further Iwalked away from God. I didn‟t want to talk to him because I didn‟twant to hear what he had to say. Almost 2 years later, I was abroken mess and at the end of my rope. I missed God. I hated mylife. I needed to get out of the relationship, but I didn‟t know how.So I decided to fast from my boyfriend for a few days. It was themost terrifying thing I‟d ever done at that point. I walked into myroom after I‟d made the decision & I remember feeling so anxiousand scared to acknowledge God. I thought I knew what was coming.

I thought God would meet me there with a vengeance. I thought hewould be angry and all but smote me. Finally, after pacing aroundmy room and trying really hard to stay distracted, I sat down andsaid, “Ok God. Here I am.” He met there, in that moment with graceand love and mercy. I was overwhelmed with his goodness. Hebegan to speak to me his plans for my life and poured forgivenesson me like a flood. It was incredible. I felt so stupid for ignoring himfor so long and for being so afraid. When my fast was over, I had a

renewed sense of who I was and where I was going. Those placesdid not include my boyfriend. So, I broke up with him. It was difficult,but it was right. I cried for a few days, but knowing that I wasstepping into the perfect plan of Christ helped me get over him a lotquicker. One month later, I was in a different Bible school where Imet the guy who was to be my husband. Sacrifice really does bringabout great rewards. Seriously. --Kristen.



When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what I was doingwith my future. I was accepted at a Bible college, but I didn't know

if that was the right decision for the next four years of my life. Noonly that, but I was struggling with a strong temptation in my lifeand I wasn't seeing any change. Also, I was in a relationship that wasn't sure if I should stay in. College. Temptation. Relationships. had issues. But I loved God, and I wanted to do what He wanted meto do. I decided to fast to focus my mind and my heart on Himonly.

I began a 3-week fast where I only drank water and ate fruits andvegetables. It was tough. There were times when I would walk tothe store, stand in line to buy a meaty sub, and then turn aroundand leave. I wanted God more than I wanted food, so I kept turningmy hunger toward him. As the fast came to a close, I felt clearly ledto go to Bible college. In the following days, I ended the relationshipthat I had been having doubts about, and I gained victory over thetemptation that for years had been controlling me. God absolutelychanged my life through fasting. For real. -- Zach.

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