40 Day Challenge

My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me. John 10:27

No one talks more than God.  Are we listening? Life moves so fast, it’s easy to blow right past God. I believe that training our heart to hear God’s voice is our most important task in life.  But I haven’t always felt this way. For years I was a skeptic, running from God.

I tell the story of my life-changing journey in prayer in Sometimes He Whispers, Sometimes He Roars: Learning to Hear the Voice of God.  I’m just one ordinary woman who has learned that listening to God can open the door to amazing adventures.

Sometimes, when I need to “sharpen my hearing,” I  embark on the 40-Day Challenge.  Perhaps you’d like to join me starting next Monday.  I’ve learned six simple steps that have added power to my prayer life.  The structure of doing the challenge helps me stay on task. And knowing that I’ll have some teammates provides a little positive peer pressure.

I’ll post a new blog each Monday morning beginning June 23.  We’ll practice a different step each week.

Getting started is simple:   

1. Gather your tools: A Bible, a notebook or journal, some 3×5 index cards (I like the wirebound version), a copy of Sometimes He Whispers, Sometimes He Roars: Learning to Hear the Voice of God.  

Click here for a free download of the Introduction and Chapters 1 and 2.

2. Pick out a time and place to spend time alone with God.  Early morning in my study works best for me. Perhaps you have a favorite chair in your bedroom or your back porch.  Wherever you feel close to God. Your time alone with God sets the tone for the rest of your day.  It helps to be intentional.

3. Begin now to notice the issues in your life that weigh heavy on your heart. Have you ever considered that your worries could actually become the raw material for prayer?   Next week, for Week One, we’ll discover ways to turn worry into prayer. Eighteenth century preacher Charles Spurgeon said it this way, “Turn your cares into prayers.”

Tell God you want to learn to hear His voice.  Something powerful happens when you get serious about seeking God. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart,” the Lord promises (Jeremiah 29:13).

Sign up to receive the blog at the bottom of this page if you want to be a regular subscriber. Or simply check my website each week. Ponder this:  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).