Day 3: Breath Prayer Part 3, Modification 

We are starting to learn how to pray, by praying a written, well-used, significant prayer. Now, we can put into practice and add something for which we will pray. I can’t make any promises, and there are no magic numbers of sorcery being used here which guarantee an outcome, but the number 40 is a theme found in the Scripture that appears to precede change. 

Forty days of rain that destroyed the land and then God brought about a “renewed” creation with Noah and his family. Moses spent 40 years as a shepherd before God sent him to shepherd the Israelites. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years and then entered the Promised Land. Jesus revealed Himself to be the new “Israel, Son of God,” after His temptation in the desert lasted 40 days. 

Prayerwork: We’re starting to stack what we’re learning. Whenever you think about praying we say the Jesus Prayer in our minds or out loud. Also, we have set an alarm reminder for morning, noon, and evening to be reminded to pray. Now, let’s ask God to bring about a change within us over the next 40 days by adding a few thoughts to our breath prayer: 

Imagine our Holy Lord, standing on His throne, looking like a lamb who has been slain, and He is listening and then ask Him out loud: 

“Lord, please transform my character, and stir my emotions toward you over the next 40 days. I cannot do this on my own and need your mercy.” 

You can continue to pray that prayer, if you would like at your alarm times of morning, noon, and evening. It’s similar to the Jesus prayer, but we’re asking for something specific. I one time read, that if you want to God to open your eyes so that you can see Him at work, you need to pray specific prayers. 

I know it doesn’t seem like much but having three alarms where you stop and pray is going to help build up the habit of turning your attention to Jesus. If in the next 40 days, God does change something in your character or He does stir your emotions toward Him in ways you haven’t felt before, tell someone about what He’s doing, or tell someone about this prayer devotional (now you’ve added a testimony, too!). 

Last thing: Plan to spend about ten minutes for prayerwork sometime tomorrow (You’re going to have to do a little research.)