40 Days

​The 40 days of Lent are modeled on the frequent use of the number 40 in Scripture. One important 40 day period was Jesus’ time in the desert:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew 4:1–2)

Which inspired the hymn lyric: 

Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins
And close by Thee to stay.

Do you ever wonder what Jesus did during those 40 days? Do you remember Scripture tells us Christ prays for us?

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

Today when you pray, remember Jesus is praying for you!