40 HOLY DAYS

COVENANT

Click HERE for Covenant Video Introduction

Week One

Holy Nature

Day 4

Day Four Devotions:

MORNING MEDITATION

AFTERNOON DEVOTION

EVENING PRAYER

MORNING MEDITATION

Morning Meditation:"And God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.' And it was so. God made two great lights - the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning - the fourth day." - Genesis 1:14-19

On the first day of creation, the Master Artist filled His studio with the brilliant light of His holiness to begin work on His grand Masterpiece. On the second day, He stretched His canvas across the wide expanse of His throne room, and enlisted His craftsman Splendor and Majesty and Strength and Glory to remain perpetual attendants over the realm He had chosen as His own. "I spread the corner of My garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you My solemn oath and entered into covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became Mine" (Ezekiel 16:8b). On the third day, He constructed the frame which would hold His covenant secure, and provide a firm foundation that would forever protect the covenant from being damaged or destroyed (Hebrews 6:17-20).

All the forming and separating of those first three days were necessary preparations to produce the sacred scroll where Holy God would scribe His covenant responsibilities to His betrothed. The first order of business was to set the dates for this glorious affair. So on the fourth day of His creative work, the Master Painter picked up His brush and began to fill the canvas with a beautiful display of brilliant lights, and with every faithful brushstroke the canvas came to life with images words cannot fully express, but would themselves articulate, from that day forward, a grand proclamation of that blessed nuptial day. Prominently displayed in the center of the canvas, our Maestro painted the supreme representative of His glory - the sun - who with its grand exhibition across the heavens each day would touch every creature with the warmth of its presence and remind all of creation of the Bridegroom's promised arrival date. "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good. His love endures forever. Who made the great lights - His love endures forever. The sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever" (Psalm 136: 1, 7-9).

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from His pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat."

(Psalm 19:4b, 5-6)

AFTERNOON DEVOTION

Afternoon Devotion "They will say, "Where is this 'coming' He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.' But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friend: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."- 2 Peter 3:4-9

Our Marriage Covenant is displayed as a beautiful work of art etched in the sky, perpetually announcing the timetable of our coming Bridegroom. Every day and night the faithful attendants of our Creator-King fulfill their duties proclaiming His decree. "As long as earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease" (Genesis 8:22). But even with these continual and trustworthy reminders, announcing heaven's holiest events throughout history, many of which have already been fulfilled, mankind still doubts the Creator will keep His appointments. "Who is this that darkens My counsel with words without knowledge? Have you given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place...Can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God's dominion over the earth." (Job 38:2, 12, 31-33).

While all of creation spends every day and night in continual worship of the majesty, glory, splendor, wisdom and strength of its' Creator, man, the only part of creation given a mouth with which to speak, spends his days questioning and debating with His Creator rather than joining the universe in its' triumphal chorus of praise. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen" (Romans 1:20-21, 25).

Regardless of man's limited understanding, and lack of patience, the return of the Lord is as certain as the sun rises in the east and the moon and stars come out at night. His arrival has been on permanent display, in our covenant in the sky, since the days of creation and will surely be announced as the day draws closer. "For the son of Man in His day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other..."(Luke 17:24). Until then, God is patiently waiting for the fulfillment of all that He has ordained and for all people to come to repentance - and bring Him, alone, the worship that is due His Holy name. "And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars - all the heavenly array - do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven" (Deuteronomy 4:19).

"Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.

Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

(Isaiah 40:26-31)

EVENING PRAYER

Evening Prayer of Praise

"And there was evening, and there was morning - the fourth day" - Genesis 1:19.

As the night falls on this fourth day of our journey let us rest in the promise of our Bridegroom's return that is written in our Marriage Covenant and is on permanent display in the sky. This is the same night sky that Abram sat under when He believed the Lord's promise: "Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them...so shall your offspring be" (Genesis 15:5); and the canopy the shepherds stood watch under when the angel of the Lord made the glorious announcement, and the heavenly host joined in a chorus of praise: "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people...a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord...Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests" (Luke 2:10, 11, 14); and the cloak of darkness that covered our Lord as He wept in anguish that night in Gethsemane: "An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground" (Luke 22:43-44).

Every night we can sleep peacefully under the promises of His covenant which will never fail; and every day the warmth of the sun which rests on our faces reminds us, that His is presence is close and His jealous love burns for us with that same intensity of heat. Let us listen with our hearts and receive assurance with our eyes, as the night sky lights up with His faithful decree, and offer up a prayer of praise that His return is guaranteed. "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning" (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

"Praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD from the heavens,

praise Him from the heights above.

Praise Him, all His angels,

praise Him, all His heavenly hosts.

Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him,

you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for He commanded and they were created.

He set them in place for ever and ever;

He gave a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do His bidding,

you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and maidens, old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for His name alone is exalted;

His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

He has raised up for His people a horn,

the praise of all His saints,

of Israel, the people close to His heart.

Praise the LORD."

(Psalm 148)

Devotional provided by Trumpet and Torch Ministries

Quick Links...

40 Holy Days Devotional Journey
The Family Foundation 40 Days for Marriage
40 Days for Marriage Video
On Holy Ground - A Prayer for the Journey
The #1 Question About Fasting? (Fasting 101)
The Garden of God (video message on fasting)
A Glimpse of His Glory (video)
Shepherds After My Own Heart (video message for pastors)
E-mail Archive (If you have missed any emails)

Coming Soon!
October 4th, 2014 - The Great Day of Intercession - make plans now for your congregation to unite at the end of our journey in one day of corporate prayer and fasting to intercede for our nation on the Day of Atonement.

October 5th, 2014 - Day 40 The Final Feast - A day of celebration for the Bride of Christ as we rebuild the prayer altar to become a house of prayer for all nations in a day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem and in prayer for pastors across the nation who will be speaking the Truth in love as they deliver God's Word on Marriage on Pulpit Freedom Sunday.

Contact:

Trumpet and Torch Ministries
40 Holy Days Devotional Prayer & Fasting e-mail journey
www.trumpetandtorch.org
info@trumpetandtorch.org

The Family Foundation
40 Days of Prayer, Fasting and Repentance for Marriage
www.familyfoundation.org/40daysformarriage
Roger@familyfoundation.org