Pray. Act. Pray Again: A 40-Day Walk with God
2018 Proposal: The Second Annual On-Line Lenten Study based on this book:
This year Lent begins on February 14, 2018. Our Lenten Study is designed intentionally to help readers and journal writers to go deeper in their Lenten participation each year by learning from past inspirations and the shared responses of others.
Introduction: For the next 40 days of Lent, can we explore what it would mean if we truly decided to obey the Great Commandment to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength?
This Year’s Foundational Scriptures are Joel 2: 13, Deuteronomy 6.5 and Matthew 22.37-40.
Joel calls us to “Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” (NRSV)
This traditional Ash Wednesday Scripture reminds us that God’s character is merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and relents from punishing. This is a good place for us to start a Lenten journey.
We also might want to ask, what does God expect from us? If we consider God’s command in Deuteronomy 6.5 to “love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our might,” we can see specifically how God wants us to respond.
Finally, Matthew describes what loving the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our might look like: when he says, we must “love our neighbor as we love ourselves.”
* Based on the actions encouraged (or more correctly commanded) by these Scriptures, it makes sense to embrace using the where we reflect prayerful on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern God’s direction for us. Through times of quiet reflection, meditation, prayer and journaling we are invited to examine our day-to-day actions.The question we might consider to underscore this is, “Can I bring to my community, my family, my relationships, and my affiliations a person who is
* Our book has designed prayers from the Scriptures as if they are personal conversations with God.We encourage the reader to write his or her own prayers, too. God wants to hear from you!
Levels of Participation
Level 1: This is the easiest level. You can work at your own pace with the 7-WEEK HANDOUT. If you include the book PRAY. ACT. PRAY AGAIN, you may want to read some of the additional daily prayers. This Level is a personal experience—especially if this is the first time you have tried praying intentionally. Responses are not expected but are always welcomed. Prayer should never be a burden. I have enjoyed praying and listening for God’s responses most of my life.
Level 2: In this level, I encourage you to read daily the scriptures from our book, PRAY. ACT. PRAY AGAIN, and/or the daily insights I will send beginning on Ash Wednesday for the next forty days. Sending feedback from what you are learning and experiencing is not necessary, but welcomed. I want to stress that working at your level of comfort is important. Think of this as the time you spend with God, a very dear friend, who knows you and loves you and looks forward to your visits.
Level 3: This advanced level involves focusing on reading the scripture to help discern what kind of actions God might be suggesting for you. (If you want to work at this level, decide how frequently you want to communicate with me, and we can work on how we will communicate.)
Level 4: This Level is new this year. For quite some time, I have been keeping a daily prayer journal. I created my own process based on a model I found in the late 1980s. I have tweaked that form; made it my own; and suggest, if you participate at this level, that you work on establishing your personal style of recording prayers.
The acronym I use is the following.
First I ask, “What is my PART today?”
So before I even get out of bed, I try to remember to ask myself four questions:
What can I PRAISE about God today?
What do I need to ADMIT needs work in me this day?
What do I want to REQUEST God to help me with today?
For what do I want to give THANKS?
Here’s an example of how I might answer these questions:
I PRAISE God for the beauty of creation I see out my window everyday.
I ADMITTED my need to stop procrastinating and write this study.
I REQUESTED inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
I THANKED God for the joy I feel when I think of my six grandchildren.
This Study Has Four Goals.
Goal 1: To provide a vehicle for personal refection during Lent that will help to deepen individual relationships with God within a Beloved Community. I will provide information through emails, social media, and /or my web page.
Goal 2: To invite people to use multiple methods of communication: the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogging, email, (possible conference calls if I can figure out how to do that) and other methods.
Goal 3: To encourage people to record what they are learning systematically so they can see their own personal growth. If you participated last year in this study, you have a head start. Look at what you wrote last year, and see what new insights you may be discovering.
Goal 4: To form a Beloved Community. This is the groundbreaking part. How could we join together to encourage establishing a community that commits to being, “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.” You see I feel strongly God does not want us to hate or to be taught to hate. If God wants us to love even those we find unlovable, how can we pray and act in a way that is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing? John 14.15-16 explains that God will send an Advocate to help us. John says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” At this Level, I want us to seek the will of God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit within a “Beloved Community.” God’s love never fails. Jesus’ life shows us how to live. When we pray, act and keep praying to discern what God’s love is calling us to do, The Holy Spirit inspires us as individuals and as communities. If we honor God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength together, there is no limit to what we might be empowered to do.
If you want to participate at Levels 2-4, I ask you to write an introductory statement (it can be one sentence) about yourself that I can share. I will set up a private page for those on Facebook. Our website is prayactprayagain.org. I am 70 years old—so using the social media tools is a learning experience for me. As we break new ground together, I hope we can discover new ways to shine God’s eternal image into the world using 21st Century tools.
Remember: our guidelines are suggestions. Take what feeds your soul. Let me know if there is a way you see that might improve how people can participate. Thank you so much. Thank you for even considering joining this journey. Be blessed, and know you are perfectly made in God’s image.
Pray. Act. Pray Again. A 40-Day Walk with God (These words have been chosen from the suggested Scriptures to help us focus on how God is personally involved in every life.)
Week 1: The Agony in the Garden Day 1. Known (Ash Wednesday)
Day 2. Released
Day 3. Provision
Day 4. Rescued 1st Sunday
Garden accounts in the 4 Gospels: “…the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak…”
Matthew 26:36-56
Mark 14: 32-50
Luke 22: 39-53
John 18: 1-12
Focus Verse: Day 1 – Known by God (Adapted from Psalm 139 (A Psalm of David). Oh Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up. You understand my thoughts from afar. You scrutinize my path and are intimately acquainted with all of my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, Oh Lord, you know it all! Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? You formed my inward parts and created me in my mother’s womb. I give thanks to you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. In your book were written ahead of time all the days ordained for me, even before one of them passed. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in your everlasting way. Amen
Because the divine became fully human, we know that He fully comprehends all aspects of our human frailties, especially our propensity to sin. There is nothing that we can hide from Him, and yet He loves us anyway.
Study Questions:
Reflect on what it means to be truly known by God to the core of your being. Does this knowledge influence your attitude as you approach Him in prayer?
What do the prayers for this week tell you about the nature of man? What do they tell you about the nature of God?
3. What is your personal response to being known, released, chosen and rescued by God?
Pray. Act. Pray Again. A 40-Day Walk with God
Week 2: The Scourging at the Pillar
The scourging at the pillar is a mournful event that serves as a reminder of the horrors Jesus suffered for love of you. Jesus is taken before the High Priest, accused, beaten, and insulted. Then He is taken by the Jewish leaders to Pilate, because only he can impose the death penalty. Even though Pilate can "find no cause in Him", yet to appease the Jews, he orders Jesus to be scourged. Jesus as the Lamb of God offers His suffering for the sins of all humanity. The prophesy of Isaiah is fulfilled: "He was wounded for our iniquities; He was bruised for our sins."
Scourging: Scourging used a whip with 7 leather strips. To make the suffering greater and the damage more serious, two small lead balls were sharpened and tied to the ends of each leather strip so that they would cut deeply into the flesh. There was a team of 6 executioners. One executioner stood on either side of Him so that Jesus; entire body, front and back from His neck to His feet, was covered with lashes. The two executioners alternately swung their whips with the force of their entire bodies. When they tired, a second and then a third team took control of this barbarous torture. The Jews were required to limit the scourging to 40 lashes, and in order to be strictly correct they limited the scourging to 39 lashes. But the Roman soldiers were in control of Jesus and they had no interest in being strictly correct. Scourging had the potential to kill the victim, because of the violence that was inflicted. The art of the torture was to bring someone close to the point of death, without having Him expire.
Through the prayers this week, consider how much God loves us—and what our response to this love might be.
Day 5, Monday: We are Reconciled.
Day 6, Tuesday: We are Forgiven.
Day 7, Wednesday: We are Joyful.
Day 8, Thursday: We Praise Our Great God.
Day 9, Friday: We Step Out in Boldness.
Day 10, Saturday: We Commit to Follow God’s Plan.
2nd Sunday in Lent
Focus Verse:Day 10 – Follow God’s Plan (Adapted from Proverbs 16: 1-4,7, 9) My Lord, I acknowledge that so many of the plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue comes from You. All my ways seem clean in my own sight, but You weigh my motives. I hereby commit my work to You Lord and trust that my plans will be established according to Your will. You have made everything for its own purpose…When my ways are pleasing to You Lord, You will make even my enemies at peace with me…as I plan my day, I know that You will direct my steps. In the holy name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
In keeping with the introspective focus of Lent, this week we look to Proverbs to reflect upon our own inner motives and hidden agendas that contrast so sharply with the purity and innocence of Jesus as He was accused, beaten and insulted for our sake.
Study Questions:
Reflect on a time when you thought your motives were pure, only to realize that you, in fact, had a hidden agenda. What would it mean in your life to truly entrust all of your plans to God?
What do the prayers for this week tell you about the nature of man? What do they tell you about the nature of God?
What is your personal response to being reconciled and forgiven? How could you personally step out in boldness to follow God’s path?
Pray. Act. Pray Again. A 40-Day Walk with God
Week 3: The Crowning with Thorns
Christian writers associated thorns with the Fall of Man, following God's pronouncement to Adam that "thorns also and thistles shall [the ground] bring forth to thee" (Genesis 3:18). They have also seen a shadow of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac, which was averted by the appearance of a ram caught "by its horns in the thicket" (Genesis 22:13) — i.e., with thorns around its head. Like Jesus, the ram subsequently became a substitutionary sacrifice. The likeliest intent of the Roman soldiers was a cruel parody of the civic crown worn by the emperor. This crown was a military decoration presented by soldiers to those who had saved the lives of Roman citizens, and had become imperial regalia since Augustus, who in his time was hailed as "Savior of the World". The irony in this symbolism will not be lost to the Christian.
Pilate asks, "Are You a king?" Jesus answers: "I am a King, but My kingdom is not of this world." The soldiers place an old purple robe on Jesus in mockery of His claim to be a king. They fashion a crown out of thorns, and forcefully press it down upon His head. In His bound hands they place a reed, as a scepter, in mockery of His kingship. Kneeling before Him in derision, they spit on Him, and cry out: "Hail, King of the Jews!" Taking the reed from His hand they strike Him on the head, driving the thorns more deeply into His scalp. Pilate brings Jesus before the people, hoping His pitiful sight will soften them: "Behold the man!" Their response: "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Jesus submitted to this terrible humiliation to make reparation for human pride.
Through the prayers this week, consider how this painful humiliation endured by Jesus shows the depth of God’s mercy on us and on the whole world.
Day 11, Monday: We Share Comfort.
Day 12, Tuesday: We Gather Wisdom.
Day 13, Wednesday: We Take Action.
Day 14, Thursday: We Exalt God.
Day 15, Friday: We Seek Instruction.
Day 16, Saturday: We .Surrender Fear
3rd Sunday in Lent
Focus Verse: Day 16 – Surrender Fear (Adapted from Psalm 27)
Lord, you are my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. You are the defense of my life, whom shall I dread? When evildoers come upon me, they stumble and fall. Though a host encamps against me, my heart will not fear. Though war arises against me, in spite of this, I shall be confident. Only one thing do I ask of you, Lord, that I shall seek and dwell in Your house all the days of my life, to experience Your peace as I meditate in Your temple. For in the day of trouble, You will conceal me in Your sanctuary and hide me in Your secret place. You will lift me up on a rock so that my head will be lifted up above my enemies. I will offer my praise with shouts of joy. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord! Amen
As we consider the quiet courage of Christ as He submitted to the humiliation of mockery and false accusations, we focus on Psalm 27 describing David’s courage as he was surrounded by enemies. In both examples their total trust in God as their rock and salvation gave them the strength to endure.
Study Questions:
Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by a particular circumstance or surrounded by enemies. What was your reaction?
What do the prayers for this week tell you about the nature of man? What do they tell you about the nature of God?
What is your personal response to sharing comfort, gathering wisdom, and seeking instruction from God?
Can you identify barriers in your own life that prevent you from turning fearful situations into situations that exalt God?
Pray. Act. Pray Again. A 40-Day Walk with God
Week 4: Mary Endures the Unjust Accusations against Jesus
When Jesus sees His mother, His pain is multiplied as he sees that His pain is causing untold anguish. He is disfigured with blood and sweat, with dust and spittle. It is hard to imagine the grief felt by Mary as she witnessed these terrible events.
As a contrast, consider the Song of Mary (Magnificat) when she finds she was chosen to be the mother of the Son of God:
From Book of Common Prayer:
My soul doth magnify the Lord : and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded : the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth : all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me : and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him : throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm : he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat : and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things : and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath helped his servant Israel : as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.
Through the prayers this week, consider what we might learn from the mother of Jesus and how she responded.
Day 17, Monday: We Love Fervently.
Day 18, Tuesday: We Wait Patiently.
Day 19, Wednesday: We Resist Evil.
Day 20, Thursday: We Trust Fully.
Day 21, Friday: We Abide in Faith.
Day 22, Saturday: We Face Troubling Times.
4th Sunday in Lent
Focus Verse: Day 18 – Wait on the Lord (Adapted from Psalm 27:1, Psalm 33, 20-22) My soul waits for You, Lord. From You I gather strength and trust. Yes, I wait for You, Lord. You are my help and my shield. My heart rejoices in You because I trust Your holy name. I ask for Your loving kindness to be upon me, Lord, as I have waited for You. Amen
Sometimes the most difficult action is to wait. It means that we have to trust in God, to continually look to him for help and to be in a state of expectation that He will act on our behalf. It is particularly hard to wait when we witness terrible things happening around us and wonder whether God will ever bring justice to the world.
Study Questions:
1. Have there ever been times in your life when you have seen a loved one treated unfairly. How have you responded?
2. What do the prayers for this week tell you about the nature of man? What do they tell you about the nature of God?
3. What is your personal response to waiting on the Lord, and abiding in His love? How can we exercise fervent love in the face of evil and trouble?
Pray. Act. Pray Again. A 40-Day Walk with God
Week 5: Carrying the Cross
John 19:17: They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.
Jesus is condemned to death by crucifixion and is forced to carry the cross to the place of execution. The suffering of Jesus is intense as the cross is laid on His bruised and wounded back and shoulders. Weak and exhausted from loss of blood, lack of food and rest, Jesus falls three times under the cross.
Through the prayers this week, consider what it means to “take up the cross, and follow Jesus”.
Day 23, Monday: Never Separated
Day 24, Tuesday: Follow the Straight Path
Day 25, Wednesday: Bear the Other’s Burden
Day 26, Thursday: Claim Spiritual Healing
Day 27, Friday: Claim Heavenly Treasure
Day 28, Saturday: Open a Wise Heart with Sweet Words
5th Sunday in Lent
Focus Verse:Day 23 – Never Separated (Adapted from Romans 8:31-37)
In the name of Jesus, I claim this mighty prayer in my own life:If God is for me, who can be against me? You who did not spare Your own son, but delivered Him up for my sin, how will You not also through Jesus freely give me all things and protect me through all circumstances?Who can bring a charge against me as one of Your elect?Only You can justify!What is able to separate me from Your love?Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?No!In all of these things I overwhelmingly conquer through Your love.For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, not things to come, nor powers, nor height, or depth, nor any created thing, is able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord.Amen.
As we imagine the loneliness of Jesus struggling under the weight of the cross when He took the long walk to Calvary, we are forced to consider the cost of that walk to God. Not sparing His own Son, but delivering Him up for our sin, God endured this pain so that we would never be separated from His love. It is difficult to comprehend the extent of such love. Reading the prayer from Romans reminds us that nothing can come between us and that love.
Study Questions:
Have there ever been times in your life when you felt utterly alone and separated from friends and God? What does it mean to you to know that nothing can separate you from God’s love?
What do the prayers for this week tell you about the nature of man? What do they tell you about the nature of God?
What is your personal response to following the straight path and bearing one another’s burdens? How can you claim your own spiritual healing and heavenly treasure?
Pray. Act. Pray Again. A 40-Day Walk with God
Week 6: Receiving Help from Strangers
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
Fearing that Jesus might die on the way, the soldiers forced Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind
Jesus. As we imagine Jesus, who had the power of the universe at His disposal, who could have stopped
the crucifixion at any point, becoming naked, exposed, and vulnerable, having to rely on the help of an
unwilling stranger, we start to understand the huge price He paid for us.
Note: The Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue in Jerusalem, where many went for annual feasts. Tradition states Simon’s sons Rufus and Alexander became missionaries; the inclusion of their names in Mark 15:21 may suggest that they were of some standing in the Early Christian community at Rome. It has also been suggested that the Rufus mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:13 is the son of Simon of Cyrene. Some also link Simon himself with the "men of Cyrene" who preached the Gospel to the Greeks in Acts 11:20.
Through the prayers this week, consider what it means to totally humble ourselves and leave all pride at the cross of Jesus.
Day 29, Monday: Endure
Day 30, Tuesday: Speak the Truth
Day 31, Wednesday: Go toward Transformation
Day 32, Thursday: One Last Cry
Day 33, Friday: Claim the Love of Jesus
Day 34, Saturday: The Lord Keeps His Own
6th Sunday: Palm Sunday
Focus Verse:Day 29 – Endure (Adapted from James 1)
Dear Lord, today I ask for endurance when my faith is tested, knowing that endurance will have its perfect result, that you may find me complete, lacking in nothing for You.If I lack wisdom, please provide me with knowledge of Your ways. If I lack in faith, remove my doubts.If I lack humility, instruct me to be humble.Bless with me with perseverance, so that I may receive Your crown of life.I know that every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father, with whom there is no variation or shadow.Help me to be quick to hear, slow to speak and even slower to anger, in all humility to receive Your word implanted in my soul.My desire is to be a doer of Your word, not merely a self-deluded hearer, so that I may receive your full blessing in my life.I ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
It is often difficult for us to accept help from others. In our pride we want to be the strong, independent ones who offer help to weaker ones. The focus verse from James reminds us to endure our circumstances in humility and to persevere when we are tested in order to have the perfect result in our lives intended by our loving God.
Study Questions:
1. Have there been times in your life when you had to rely on the kindness of others, even strangers? How were you able to deal with those circumstances?
Have there been times in your life when you felt you could only cry out to God?
What do the prayers for this week tell you about the nature of man? What do they tell you about the nature of God?
What is your personal response to allowing God to transform you? Are you able to present yourself as a living sacrifice to His will, whatever that may be? What impedes you from letting go of your own will in order to be “kept” by God?
Pray. Act. Pray Again. A 40-Day Walk with God
Week 7: The Crucifixion
The hands and feet of Jesus are nailed to the cross in the presence of His afflicted mother and other devoted followers. Jesus says, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." He tells the man crucified with Him, "This day you will be with Me in paradise." He cries out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" He thirsts. Then, finally He says, "It is finished," and "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit." The side of Jesus is pierced with a lance. His body is taken down and placed in the arms of His mother.
Note: This punishment began by subjecting the sufferer to scourging. In the case of our Lord, however, his scourging was rather before the sentence was passed upon him, and was inflicted by Pilate for the purpose, probably, of exciting pity and procuring his escape from further punishment (Luke 23:22; John 19:1). The condemned one carried his own cross to the place of execution, which was outside the city, in some conspicuous place set apart for the purpose. Before the nailing to the cross took place, a medicated cup of vinegar mixed with gall and myrrh (the sopor) was given, for the purpose of deadening the pangs of the sufferer. Our Lord refused this cup, that his senses might be clear (Matt. 27:34). The spongeful of vinegar, sour wine, posca, the common drink of the Roman soldiers, which was put on a hyssop stalk and offered to our Lord in contemptuous pity (Matt. 27:48; Luke 23:36), he tasted to allay the agonies of his thirst (John 19:29).
The accounts given of the crucifixion of our Lord are in entire agreement with the customs and practices of the Roman in such cases. He was crucified between two "malefactors" (Isa. 53:12; Luke 23:32), and was watched by a party of four soldiers (John 19:23; Matt. 27:36, 54), with their centurion. The "breaking of the legs" of the malefactors was intended to hasten death, and put them out of misery (John 19:31); but the unusual rapidity of our Lord's death (19:33) was due to his previous sufferings and his great mental anguish. The omission of the breaking of his legs was the fulfilment of a type (Ex. 12:46). He literally died of a broken heart, a ruptured heart, and hence the flowing of blood and water from the wound made by the soldier's spear (John 19:34). Our Lord uttered seven memorable words from the cross, namely, (1) Luke 23:34; (2) 23:43; (3) John 19:26; (4) Matt. 27:46, Mark 15:34; (5) John 19:28; (6) 19:30; (7) Luke 23:46.
Through the prayers this week, consider what it means to ask, “God our Father, by the merits of the crucifixion and death of Jesus, have mercy on me and on the whole world. Amen.”
Day 35, Holy Week Monday: Full Confidence in God
Day 36, Holy Week Tuesday: A Thankful Heart
Day 37, Holy Week Wednesday: Focus on the Good
Day 38, Maundy Thursday: God’s Armor Revealed
Day 39, Good Friday: Seek God
Day 40, Holy Saturday: It is Done – Empowered!
Easter Sunday: The Way, the Truth and the Life
Focus Verse: Day 40 – Empowered (Adapted from Ephesians 3: 20-21)
Now according to You who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than I ask or imagine, according to the power that works within me, to You be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
The final prayer in our 40-day journey expresses the source of the power we now claim as a result of our redemption at the cross. It is a joyous declaration that our God is able to do more than we can even imagine by the activation of the power released at the cross by Jesus Christ and now residing within each believer. We acknowledge our own responsibility to claim our empowerment daily as we walk through life with the risen Christ at our side.
Study Questions:
1. Has there been an instance in your life when you have experienced the power of God working through you? How can you access that power daily in your life?
2. What do the prayers for this week tell you about the nature of man? What do they tell you about the nature of God?
3. What is your personal response to knowing that God will meet all of your needs if you focus on the good and maintain a thankful heart in all things?
4. Praying the warrior’s prayer daily (Day 38) has been found by many people to be very effective in resisting evil. What impact do you think praying this prayer for yourself and the world each day might have?
5. The final challenge for this study is to consider what it means for your own life to claim the resurrection power and know that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.