For Forty Days … Prelude

40 days is the best part of five weeks, just a few days short of six. Imagine what you could get done in that space of time …

According to some, if I started a habit and consistently did it on a daily basis for that period of time, it should be well embedded in my rhythm of life. What would happen if I took up to spend a few hours a day for forty days in a row to learn a new language? I’d be at a place to hold a basic conversation in that language.

On that same basis of a few hours a day for forty days in a row, I could become proficient at things such as basic coding for web development (can you imagine? No, me neither), playing a musical instrument, digital photography and editing, and maybe even writing a draft for a book (can you imagine? Well; actually, I could!). That would be sufficient time to lay the groundwork for a side business, including developing a business plan and setting up the initial service offering.

The Bible offers a very different insight into the significance of 40 days. From all the references, I’m interested in exploring eight of them – that’s eight episodes of 40 days being there for one reason or another. These episodes will give us insight into how God relates to His creation. It will allow us to see how He judges righteously, how He extends mercy, how He grants great opportunity, how He relates with covenantal faithfulness, how He turns a situation of intimidation and depression into an opportunity for glory, How He prepares people for mission and how He renews His commitment to do what’s right in His sight.

You’re invited to join me in exploring these episodes over the next 40 days. We’ll consider each episode’s context, content, concepts, conclusions, and consequences with the hope that our love for God will grow, our understanding of His interaction with us will deepen, and our desire to understand the dimensions of His mission will be enriched.

For His Name’s Sake

C. L. J. Dryden

Shalom