What is 40 Days of Worship All About?
We know from human behavior studies that anything done for 40 days becomes a habit and habits actually govern our lives. The motive for our 40 days of worship is simply that in 2012 we will establish a habit of being in His presence and giving ourselves daily to him as a living sacrifice. It’s a way for us to learn how to live the Romans 12:1-3 commandments.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
While 40 Days of Worship may sound familiar as there are church campaigns with that name, our 40 Days of Worship is not a package campaign with lots of activities. The Father’s House 40 days is a simple commitment for individuals to commit to coming before the Lord to worship Him for 15 to 30 minutes a day, every day for 40 days. It’s offering our bodies, our entire being to be in His presence not to make petition, but to praise, love and adore Him. It’s coming to God not to receive things but to receive Him!
We do know that worship is much more than our praise and adoration of God, it’s offering our whole life to Him. However, in these 40 days we are going to focus on the “practicing God’s presence” aspect of a life of worship. We are using the simple principles out of Hebrews 15:12 (Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name). Along with Ephesians 5:18-20… be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
We believe that it’s out of God’s presence that the river life flows. Here at Father’s House we honor God’s presence in our service, but in 2012 we want to take it from the corporate gathering to our individual time with God. In order to make this successful we believe that there are keys for having a life changing experience in these 40 days that will run from January 15 to February 25th.
1. Present yourself daily to God. Take 15 to 30 minutes daily, preferably at the start of the day to enter His presence with thanksgiving, praise in words and in song. Speaking or singing out loud your praise and adoration.
2. As part of your worship deny the world’s influence on your life. Ask the Lord what is influencing you more than His Word and His presence. Then, lay aside these things asking the Holy Spirit to give you power and grace to do so.
3. Ask for the Holy Spirit to renew your mind in His presence in through the Word. As you worship have a journal next to you. We recommend that you open up to the Psalms of praise such as Psalms 28, 36, 98, 100, 105, 111, 113, 117, 135, 136, 145, 146, 150, etc. and actually say them out loud. Write down impressions, insights, whatever you hear, feel or discern from the Lord. In this process He will give you new vision to see what the Father is like, what He is doing and saying.
In order to facilitate an atmosphere of praise and worship we recommend that you have music playing the entire time. The Psalms are full of instances where worship of God tied to singing. Music is a powerful medium for entering the Lord’s presence. We know that even now the courtroom of heaven is full of music. So use music as a backdrop of inspiration and setting up of the atmosphere. We recommend you use both upbeat rejoicing as well as the slower adoration styles. The Holy Spirit may take you through days of rejoicing and entering into joy and He may take you through days of reflective quite times in the presence of God. Let him lead you.
In order to facilitate your time of worship, we will be posting on this blog resources for music you can use to listen to off your computer. We will have short devotionals that can help you enter into the mindset of worship and a bunch of Psalms readings that you can use as proclamations of praise to God. So keep checking back during the 40 days.
Finally, we like to hear from you! If the Lord gives you any encouragement that you believe will be a blessing to others, simply come on this blog click on “Links for Worship Resources” and then go to “leave a Reply” to blog your testimonies, insights and encouragements.
