January 2: 1 Kings 19:8 Elijah got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food for 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the ...

... the Mount of God.

The prophet Elijah was following in the ancient footsteps of Moses, who also spent 40 days on the mountain. Many years later, the Lord Jesus would go out into the desert wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights, preparing for his public ministry. We have assigned 40 days to the season of Lent. 40 seems like a number that works in the calendar of God.