Week One — Seeking God
Theme Verse
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”
Psalm 127:1
Weekly Prayer Focus
- That God would draw every member of Riva Trace Baptist Church into a deeper walk with Him.
- That our prayers would reflect dependence rather than self-sufficiency.
- That the Lord would prepare our hearts before He prepares our plans.
- That Christ alone would receive the glory for all He intends to accomplish.
Weekly Memory Verse
Psalm 127:1
“Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.”
FAQ's
Why Forty Days?
Throughout Scripture, seasons of forty often mark times of preparation, testing, dependence, and renewed trust in God. While the Bible does not command believers to pray or fast for exactly forty days, this recurring pattern reminds us that God often uses intentional seasons of seeking Him to prepare His people for what lies ahead.
Noah experienced forty days of rain as God judged the earth and began a new chapter in history (Genesis 7:12). Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai receiving God’s Law (Exodus 24:18). Elijah traveled forty days to Mount Horeb where the Lord renewed his strength and commissioned him for future ministry (1 Kings 19:8). Most significantly, our Lord Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1–11).
In each case, the number forty points not to a mystical formula but to a season of dependence upon God. Before new beginnings came humble submission. Before public ministry came private communion with the Father.
As a church family, we desire to follow that same pattern. We are not praying because forty days is somehow more spiritual than thirty or fifty. We are setting aside these weeks because they provide an intentional opportunity to slow down, listen to God’s Word, confess our sins, and seek His wisdom together.
These forty days are not about earning God’s favor. They are about placing ourselves where we can better hear His voice, align our hearts with His purposes, and remember that everything of eternal value depends upon Him.
Our prayer is that when September 20 arrives, we will not simply celebrate the launch of another worship service. We will celebrate what God has done in our hearts as we have sought Him together.
What Is Prayer?
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”
Jeremiah 33:3
Prayer is one of the greatest privileges God has given His children. Through Jesus Christ, every believer has direct access to the throne of grace. We do not need an earthly priest to speak on our behalf, nor do we come hoping God might hear us. Because of the finished work of Christ, we come confidently before our Heavenly Father, knowing that He welcomes us into His presence.
Prayer is far more than asking God for things. It is the ongoing relationship of a redeemed child speaking with a loving Father. In prayer we worship, confess, thank, intercede, seek wisdom, express our burdens, and align our hearts with God’s will. Prayer changes us as much as it changes our circumstances.
Throughout Scripture, God’s people prayed in every season of life. Abraham interceded for others. Moses pleaded for Israel. Hannah poured out her heart for a son. David prayed in victory and in despair. Daniel prayed faithfully despite persecution. The early church prayed before making important decisions, during times of suffering, and while proclaiming the gospel.
Jesus Himself demonstrated a life of constant communion with the Father. Though fully God, He regularly withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5:16). He prayed before choosing the Twelve (Luke 6:12–13), before feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:19), before His arrest in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46), and even from the cross (Luke 23:34, 46). If the sinless Son of God depended upon prayer, how much more should we?
Prayer is not informing God of what He does not know. Jesus taught that “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Neither is prayer an attempt to persuade a reluctant God. Rather, prayer is the means by which God draws us into fellowship with Himself and accomplishes His purposes through willing, dependent people.
As we begin these forty days, let us resist the temptation to treat prayer as a religious exercise. Instead, let us approach it as an invitation to walk daily with the living God. Our goal is not merely that God would answer our requests, but that we would know Him more deeply, trust Him more fully, and delight in His presence more consistently.
May every prayer we offer begin with the same desire expressed by our Lord:
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
What Is Biblical Fasting?
“But you, when you fast…”
Matthew 6:17
Notice that Jesus did not say, “If you fast,” but “when you fast.” While the New Testament never commands fasting as a requirement for believers, it clearly assumes that there will be occasions when God’s people voluntarily set aside legitimate comforts in order to seek Him with greater intentionality.
Biblical fasting is the voluntary abstaining from food—or another legitimate pleasure—for a spiritual purpose. It is never an attempt to earn God’s favor or manipulate Him into answering our prayers. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We fast not to gain acceptance with God, but because we have already been accepted in Christ.
Throughout Scripture, fasting accompanied seasons of repentance, earnest prayer, mourning, worship, and seeking God’s direction. Ezra proclaimed a fast before leading Israel safely to Jerusalem (Ezra 8:21–23). Jehoshaphat called the nation to fast when facing overwhelming enemies (2 Chronicles 20:1–4). Esther asked God’s people to fast before she approached the king (Esther 4:16). The church at Antioch fasted while worshiping the Lord, and during that time the Holy Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul for missionary service (Acts 13:1–3).
Our purpose in fasting during these forty days is similar. We seek God’s wisdom, His blessing, and His direction as we prepare for the launch of a second worship service and as our Elders seek the man God has chosen to serve as Associate Pastor.
Fasting reminds us that our greatest need is not physical bread but spiritual nourishment. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness after forty days of fasting, He answered Satan with these words:
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Every time hunger reminds us of what we have set aside, may it prompt us to turn our attention toward Christ.
A Few Practical Guidelines
- Fast with humility, not with a desire to be noticed (Matthew 6:16–18).
- Fast voluntarily, not out of guilt or pressure.
- Replace the time you would normally spend eating or enjoying another activity with prayer and Scripture reading.
- If you have medical conditions, are pregnant, nursing, diabetic, or have other health concerns, do not fast from food without consulting your physician. Consider fasting from media, entertainment, desserts, or another legitimate pleasure instead.
- Remember that fasting is a servant of prayer. Without prayer, fasting becomes little more than dieting.
Above all, let every fast deepen your dependence upon Christ.
Preparing Your Heart
Before asking God to change our circumstances, we should ask Him to search our hearts.
David prayed,
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139:23–24)
Revival in a church rarely begins with programs or strategies. It begins when God’s people humble themselves before Him.
As you begin this forty-day journey, prayerfully consider these questions:
- Is there any unconfessed sin I need to bring before the Lord?
- Is there someone I need to forgive?
- Have I become distracted by the cares of this world?
- Am I more passionate about God’s kingdom than my own comfort?
- Do I truly desire God’s will, even if it differs from my own plans?
The purpose of these questions is not to produce guilt but to encourage honest self-examination. God’s grace is sufficient for every failure, and His mercy is new every morning.
Come to Him honestly.
Come to Him expectantly.
Come believing that He delights to renew His people.
How to Use This Guide
This booklet has been designed to help our entire church family seek the Lord together. Whether you are a new believer or have walked with Christ for many years, we encourage you to set aside approximately 20–30 minutes each day.
A suggested pattern:
- Begin with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you through His Word.
- Read the day’s Scripture slowly. Read it more than once if possible.
- Read the devotional thoughtfully. Consider how the truth applies to your life.
- Answer the reflection questions honestly.
- Pray through the prayer focus, making it personal.
- Practice the suggested fast, as you are able.
- Memorize the week’s memory verse.
Don’t rush.
These pages are not intended to be completed as quickly as possible. They are invitations to linger in God’s presence.
If you miss a day, don’t become discouraged. Simply continue where you left off. The goal is not perfection but faithful dependence upon the Lord.
Finally, consider walking through this booklet with your spouse, family, small group, or a close friend. The Christian life was never intended to be lived alone, and there is great encouragement in seeking the Lord together.