Yesterday I completed my first 40 day journey. As I was thinking back on my bible and the dares, it occurred to me how significant the number 40 is. Here are a couple of examples I remember from my studies.
Genesis 8:6 "And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made". And what did Noah see? A new beginning. The flood waters had receded and the earth was new again. All the unclean things had been swept away by the flood.
Moses also experienced 40 days. Exodus 24:18 "And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights". What was he doing there? He was receiving the Commandments from God. The covenant between God and man.
The children of Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years!
As this 40 day Love Dare journey is a way for us to draw ourselves closer to God and our spouse, aren't you glad it's a 40 day journey and not 40 years until you see/feel results? As with the Genesis verse above, we will have a new beginning at the end of our 40 days. Like the Exodus verse, we will have a renewed covenant with God and our spouse. Oh how great is our God!!
Luke 11:9 "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
I realize my journey doesn't end with this 40 days. The journey only comes in 40 day segments now for the rest of my life. I have found my Lord again through this journey. He didn't have to find me. He knows where I am all along the way.
Thank you Lord for my wife, my children, my job, my family and friends. And to all of you who read this, my sincere prayers are with you, and I ask for yours in return. Our 27th wedding anniversary is this Friday October 1st, 2010. I am combining day 39 and 40 in a letter inside my anniversary card to my wife.
God bless,
Paul
Great points... It just goes to show how much people can get out of this journey when they are willing to give up the flesh of control and humble themselves to listen.
Thanks Sean,
I have started my next 40 days today. God will show us some amazing things if we get ourselves out of the way. There is a wise man (Sean, lol) on here that keeps posting " Be still, and know that I am God".
I look forward to your comments and encouragements on everyone's posts each day. Thanks for being here for all of us. We can all do more for God if we let him do a work in us. Your a blessing Sean!
Thank you Paul.
Because He was able to get me to see things in my life and the blessing and desires of my heart being full, I am determined to help others and be that testimony.
It is hard though. Sometimes people can be so stubborn (as I was) it is hard. But I must continue on, because if my marriage and life can be changed, anyones can.
Update about my letter I gave my wife today for our anniversary. She said she read it and that it was "nice", but it made her feel bad. I told her that was not the intent. It was just to let her know how I am feeling about our marriage right now. We do love each other, but we have had little time for each other this year. Thankfully, both our jobs are well, but they also take all of our time. My hope is we can get through this dry spell during the winter months and have a rebirth along with the Spring next year. God is very good!!!
So, will you start this over?
Yes sir! I'm on day 46 now. The heart is trying to lead again today, but I'm fighting it with prayer and reading the posts here. I have faith God will do a work here. Keep praying for us. Thanks Sean. God bless you and your Love Dare ministry.
Prayers will always be there.
Starting over will give you a whole new outlook to things than the first time.