40 Day Pray for Rain :  A Prayer Guide

During one of the most challenging seasons of my life, I committed to 40 days of focused prayer, documenting my observations along the way. At the time, I couldn’t have foreseen the profound impact it would have, not just in that moment, but years later, as this simple exercise continues to shape me.

Over the next 40 days, draw closer to God through intentional prayer. Father God, bring the rain. You will see how prayer not only allows us to see God’s provision but also transforms your heart.

Why 40 Day Pray For Rain?

Whether you find yourself in a season of abundance or famine, you may often return to the same question: What’s next? Where does God want me to go, and what does He want me to do?

Sometimes this uncertainty centers on hoping for financial provision. Other times, it involves choosing between two paths or searching for a path altogether. In the midst of this desire for clarity and peace, it’s easy to fall into one of two traps:

1. Trusting in ourselves and our abilities

2. Treating God like a wish-maker

This prayer guide is designed to help you avoid both pitfalls. It invites you to pray with intentionality, asking God to bring the rain:

• Move me where You want me.

• Make me new again.

• Heal and prepare me for the work You have set before me.

• Draw me closer to You.

• Help me trust that all things are in Your hands.

By engaging in this exercise, I have found a deeper connection with God and a renewed trust in His provision and timing.

Purpose of Prayer

What is the purpose of prayer? Prayer is a discipline that refreshes us and brings us closer to God.  At its core, prayer is an act of humility, removing ourselves as the focus and bowing before the Creator of the universe. In a life often dictated by speed and productivity, Prayer makes us pause and reorients ourselves towards God. 

The Bible tells us that we don’t know what we should pray for but the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, “groaning” on our behalf (Romans 8:26). In prayer, we bring our burdens to God, recognizing that we are not in control. Prayer becomes a space to:

• Express praise for who God is

• Lament the pain and struggles we face

• Lay down our burdens and surrender them to Him

• Confess our sins and receive His forgiveness

• Slow down and enjoy God’s presence

Prayer is a unique and powerful method to more deeply connect with God.

Welcome to the 40 Day Pray For Rain Prayer Guide

This guide invites you to intentionally seek God by bringing a specific prayer request before Him and laying it at His feet. The goal is not to get the outcome we pray for but to share the desire of our heart before God and recognize the outcome is in his hands.

Over the next 40 days, you will bring the same request before God and document what you observe along the way. You may find that prayer transforms not just your circumstances but also your heart. You might find as I did that by the end of 40 days, your prayers will change. In many instances, the desires of my heart changed and I no longer could bring the same prayer forward. 

While I rarely received the exact outcome I prayed for, God always provided what I truly needed:

• Revealing sin to bring healing and repair relationships

• Unexpected blessings born from seemingly tragic circumstances

• Peace in the midst of pain

• Clarity and direction in seasons of confusion

• A completely unexpected journey that led to deeper purpose

Overview

Day 1

• Set your beginning and end dates for this 40-day journey.

• Write down your specific prayer request.

• Take some time to sit quietly and present this request before God in prayer.

• Write down any observations or reflections from your time in prayer.

Days 2–39

• Reflect on any notable events, insights, or observations that happened between your times of prayer.

• Pray your request before God with intention and humility.

• Record your observations during or after your prayer time, noting any changes in your heart or perspective.

Day 40

• Pray your request before God one final time in this process.

• Review all the entries you’ve written over the past 40 days.

• Reflect on your journey by answering the questions in the final day exercise.

Final Day Exercise: Reflection

On the final day of your 40-day journey, take time to reflect on the prayers you’ve written and the observations you’ve made. This is an opportunity to review how God has been working in your heart and life throughout this process. Use the following questions as a guide for your reflection:

1. What themes do you see in your prayers and observations?

   • Look for recurring ideas, emotions, or insights that God revealed to you over the past 40 days.

2. How did your prayer change?

   • Reflect on whether and how your initial request evolved as you drew closer to God.

3. What did the “rain” bring?

   • Consider the ways God answered your prayers, whether through provision, clarity, peace, or unexpected blessings.

4. What did you learn about God?

   • Write down what this journey taught you about God’s character, His faithfulness, or His ways.

5. What did you learn about yourself?

   • Reflect on how this experience deepened your understanding of yourself, your heart, or your relationship with God.

6. What is one key lesson you are taking away from this exercise?

   • Identify the primary insight or takeaway from this journey that you want to carry forward into your life.

Take time to journal your responses thoughtfully and prayerfully. Allow this reflection to solidify what God has done in you and prepare your heart for the next steps in your journey of faith.

What Happens If I Miss a Day?

It’s likely that you will miss a day and that’s alright! While consistency will help you notice and experience God’s work more clearly, you don’t have to be perfect to receive the benefits.

If you miss a day, simply pick up where you left off. Allow grace to cover the gap, and don’t let guilt keep you from continuing. The important thing is to stay committed to the process and remain open to what God wants to reveal to you.

How to Pray

As part of your prayer, consider incorporating this simple phrase: Father God, bring the rain. While this phrase is not essential to draw near to God or lay your burdens before Him, it carries a spirit of surrender. When I was completing my first 40 Day Pray for Rain, this was my prayer: Father God, bring the rain. It became my way of relinquishing control and asking God to lead me where He wanted me.

Many of you may find yourselves seeking direction from God yet unsure of what to say. This phrase can help you humbly place your request before Him while praying, “Let not my will, but Your will be done.”

Prayer Template

For those who feel more comfortable following a specific structure, I’ve provided a prayer template modeled after the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13:

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”

Using Jesus’ example, your prayer can follow this pattern:

1. Praise God – Acknowledge and worship Him for who He is.

2. Surrender Control – Remind yourself that God is in control, and relinquish your own control over the situation.

3. Present Your Request – Share your concerns, needs, or desires with God.

4. Confess and Accept Forgiveness – Bring your sins before Him, ask and receive his forgiveness.

5. Ask for Protection – Depend on Him to guide you away from temptation and deliver you from harm.

Example Prayer

Here’s one of my real prayers from this journey:

Thank You, Jesus, for this day!
You are the Creator of the universe and all things are in Your hands.
I am confused about where You are leading me. I am worried about providing for my family. I don’t know if I can keep going. Please give me clarity on what steps I need to take. Father God, bring the rain.
Forgive me for being impatient with my progress and for shifting blame to others for my faults. Thank You for forgiving me.
Keep me focused on You and away from the things that tempt me.
Amen!

40 Day Pray For Rain Downloadable Template

If you would like a printable form to download and start tracking your 40 Day Pray For Rain Journey please download the PDF below.

Need Help?

Please reach out to Jacob@anchorcoaching.co or book a quick call on my calendar if you have any questions on this prayer guide!

Resources

Books

Handbook to Prayer: Praying Scripture Back to God by Kenneth Boa