More than 7000 Christians are falling to their knees today as part of the Sydney Diocese' 40 Days With The Risen Lord phenomenon.

The program aims to have Christians praying for personal and global revival for the 40 days from Easter Sunday to Ascension.

The thousands of believers participating have answered the call from all over Australia, as well as countries like Canada and the United Kingdom.

The Sydney Anglican initiative will also embrace numerous denominations including congregations like the Lightning Ridge Community Church and the Chinese Alliance Church of South Australia.

In all, close to 80 Bible-based churches have answered the call to prayer.

The Rev. Brian Stewart a participant from Camden Baptist Church says that Jesus desired his followers to abide in Him.

“Individual and corporate prayer is an essential ingredient in that abiding spiritual principle,” Mr Stewart says.

"A world at its worse demands a church at its best and the Church is at its best when it is a praying - an abiding " church."

The brainchild of ministry worker Sarah Plummer and Bishop of Wollongong Reg Piper, the 40 Days With The Risen Lord program aims to bring the whole Church to reflect on the period the disciples spent with Jesus after his resurrection.

Organisers have produced a prayer journal containing verses from Luke and Acts, a prayer and space to write a personal prayer for each of the 40 days.

The prayer initiative officially ends on May 5, but it will be followed by 10 days of worldwide prayer culminating in a Global Day of Prayer on May 15.

Mrs Plummer envisages a ‘Mexican wave’ of prayer on this day starting at sunrise in Western Samoa then continuing around the whole world.

On May 14th the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffrey, will launch Australia's second National Day of Thanksgiving.

This national event is supported by the Prime Minister John Howard as an opportunity to celebrate Australia's Christian heritage and thank those who serve in our community.