We all know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares five-minute story-driven devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.
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This book will certainly Refresh Your Prayers. No more childhood memorized prayers or habitually spoken-in-rote prayers with no meaning. Get this book and keep it on your shelves to occasionally refresh your prayer time. This is my honest review after reading a complimentary copy. I will draw one name for a free copy from those who comment on this page. by March 15, 2020
Each devotion ends with a PowerPoint (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change. If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
We all know that prayer life is important but are we doing it? Prayer is a mysterious thing and at times we aren’t sure of the how when or why of it all. Perhaps you need a little push in the right direction. Lori will help you figure it all out and get your prayer life on the right track.
These quick and easy devotions are simple, understandable, and relatable.
Reinvigorate your prayer life with this 60-day devotional. Each reading is crafted to inspire your faith and equip you to pray. Use the prayer prompts and powerful Scripture truths from the Old and New Testaments as a catalyst for your words. If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.
Read one of my favorites from the book
Learning to Trust
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Mark 4:40
Our dog Winston was the biggest scaredy-cat in the canine world. We credit his timidity to his time in “The Big House.” The runt of the litter, seven-week-old Winston was malnourished and mangy when someone dropped him off at the animal shelter.
Thankfully the animal control officer was married to Grace, the president of the animal rescue league. He told her about the tiny, freckle-faced puppy, and she saw potential in him. Eying his patchy fur and protruding ribs, she announced, “I can cure his mange and fatten him up. He’ll make someone a great pet.”
Until his mange cured, Grace kept Winston isolated. By the time we adopted him, he’d spent a large portion of his life alone. We weren’t surprised to discover he had trust issues.
Imagine What it Would Be Like
Imagine what it would be like to go from an isolated crate in the corner of a room to a big wide world bustling with sights, sounds, and smells. Falling leaves sent him running for cover. Sudden noises caused him to hide under the nearest piece of furniture. One day we were playing in an open field when a plastic grocery bag blew his way. He bolted like Sasquatch was chasing him.
Winston reminds me of myself in the early days of my faith. God didn’t rescue me from The Big House, but He did rescue me from a dark and hopeless future. He cured my sin sickness and promised to take care of me all the days of my life.
But I had trust issues.
At the first rustle of change or clatter of trouble, I ran for cover.
Like the disciples in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, I cried out, “Teacher, don’t you care about me?”
I was convinced—God was sleeping, and I was going to drown.
I had to extend lots of love and patience to persuade Winston to trust me. When scary things frightened him, I called his name, dropped to my knees, and opened my arms wide. “Come, Winston,” I said. “Come to me. I’ll protect you.”
Before Long
Before long he learned to run to me instead of away from me. One day I walked him on a busy street to condition him not to fear traffic noises. In the distance, a fire truck roared our way. Seeing the threat, I dropped to my knees, wrapped my arms around him, and covered him with my body until the truck howled past.
“Don’t be afraid,” I whispered into his trembling ear. “I’ve got you.”
God did the same for me.
As I prayed and He answered, I learned to run to Him whenever anything frightening entered my world. When I brought financial needs, sickness, and relationship troubles to Him in prayer, I saw Him respond. When the leaves of uncertainty rustled, I shared my fears with Him. When unemployment, a wayward child, or a troubling situation roared into my life, I sought protection in His mighty arms and found comfort and help.
As He answered my prayers and responded to my needs, my trust grew.
“Don’t be afraid,” God whispered to my trembling heart. “I’ve got you.”
Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to pray about everything.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if God met my needs; kept me free from sickness, pain, and sorrow; and intercepted every problem before it touched my life?
But if He Did….
If He did, though, I’d never learn to trust Him. My faith would be as malnourished as Winston when Grace rescued him. I’d take every good gift for granted and never recognize that it came from the generous hand of my heavenly Father.
In heaven, nothing will make me afraid, and my faith will become sight. Until then, my fear drives me to pray, and God’s answers grow my faith.
As Winston learned to trust me, our relationship grew sweeter. No longer plagued by fear and distrust, he could freely enjoy the life we shared.
As I’ve learned to trust God
As I’ve learned to trust God, our relationship has grown sweeter too. I’ve learned He’s not asleep on the job. He’s aware of all my needs and is fully able to meet them.
This knowledge frees me to face life with confidence.
Jesus Asked His Disciples…
Jesus asked His disciples two questions in the middle of the storm. He asks us the same: “Why are you so afraid?” and “Do you still have no faith?” Because faith pleases God, I’m learning to embrace every need that sends me running into His arms. No matter what threatens, I find them always open.
Taken from Refresh Your Prayers: Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise by Lori Hatcher© 2022. Used by permission of Our Daily Bread Publishing®, Box 3566, Grand Rapids, MI 49501. All rights reserved. Further distribution is prohibited without written permission from Our Daily Bread Publishing® at permissionsdept@odb.org.
Lori Hatcher is a pastor’s wife who lives delightfully close to her four grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina. She’s the author of several devotional books including Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise. She’s also a blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Refresh. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).
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Pastor’s Wife (retired) & Chronic Pain Warrior blogs about how to make it through anything by relating her own life experiences to her writing. She is passionate about her love for the Lord and desires to spread that passion to others. She has a great desire to encourage women who are following behind her.
This sounds like an amazing read!
Great devotional! Plan to read one way or another!
Kim, It really is a great devotional. And guess what, you win the book! please contact me through the contact us page with your mailing address.
Did you get an e-mail from me. You are the winner of this amazing devotional. I need your mailing address. Please contact me through e-mail or through the contact page. Thank you
I am delighted with this book! Every devotional speaks to me personally and even changed how I include the Father in my daily prayers as if he were standing beside me, one hand on my shoulder. If the Creator of the Universe walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, He walks with me. No more prayers by rote. He is here listening to me because He wants my company as much as I want His. I love this book so much I want to gift copies to my special believer friends.
I really enjoyed it as well. Never get tired of reading the next devotion and I want to share it with others too.