Your Forty-Day Wilderness Journal

Denise Lewis

Description

Connect to God’s heart and create lasting prayer habits with the lessons and insights in Your Forty-Day Wilderness Journal.
Too many people feel disconnected from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—and they wonder where is God or even question if He exists.
In this journal, readers are encouraged to connect to God’s heart and create lasting prayer habits. Whether you’re a church leader seeking to enhance the prayer life of your congregation or an individual seeking a deeper connection with the Lord, this journal provides tools to:
• embrace the hope He has for us in His promises;
• grow spiritually as you walk closer to the Lord;
• renew your spirit and let the light of God shine upon you.
After each entry, there is space to reflect on what resonates with you, what you feel God is saying to you, and what you want to say to God.
When Jesus went into the wilderness, it was me and you He had in mind—connecting to us so we can know Him personally. Find His heart through Scripture and discover the gift He provided with the lessons and insights in Your Forty-Day Wilderness Journal.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Christian Living
• Philosophie et théologie
• Religious text
• God
• Prayer
• Journal

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 04 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664285446
• Langue: English

Extrait

YOUR FORTY-DAY WILDERNESS JOURNAL

 
Finding the Pathway to Hope
 
 
 
DENISE LEWIS
 
 
 

 
 
Copyright © 2022 Denise Lewis.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8543-9 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8545-3 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-8544-6 (e)
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 12/02/2022
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Your Journey Begins with Prayer
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Day 19
Day 20
Day 21
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Day 28
Day 29
Day 30
Day 31
Day 32
Day 33
Day 34
Day 35
Day 36
Day 37
Day 38
Day 39
Day 40
Your Journey Does Not End Here

 
 
 

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
PSALM 119:105
 
 
 
 

PREFACE
During a time when I was teaching a class on prayer with my pastor, the idea of creating a prayer journal came to mind. That was several years ago, and the idea stayed in my mind. One day I started to put down what was in my heart. For me, teaching prayer has its foundation in scripture. Jesus stated, “My house will be called a house of prayer.” 1 † My desire was that through the scriptures people would connect with the heart of Christ.
The name of the book has changed as I was writing. I wanted to offer more than a journal—my desire was to create a place to build habits for life.
As I began, I started searching for how many days it takes to create habits. There were many different answers, as you might imagine, but at that point I knew that nothing I was searching for was the right answer. The significance had to be found in the scriptures. Then I found it: forty days. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness and used the word of God in victory. I don’t believe that was the only word that sustained Jesus during that time, but that it was the entire Word of God.
No, we do not have the same purpose as Jesus. When Jesus went to the wilderness, it was me and you He had in mind—ultimately connecting to us in a relationship where we are given a right standing, and where we can know Him personally. My place in the wilderness is about knowing God, finding His heart through scripture, and being spiritually connected with Him where hope always exists. It is the gift Jesus provided, starting with His victory in the wilderness and leading us to the cross, where He gave His life for us. My victory is to experience Him.
After writing my journal, I didn’t know I was about to enter another wilderness experience. About four months later, I was diagnosed with cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and ultimately had to have a stem cell transplant. It was as clear as anything I’ve heard: the whisper of God spoke to my spirit, saying “Well, this is what you said.” I started the journey through the prayer journal I intended for others. It was amazing how many days really lined up with what I was feeling.
I truly believe I wrote this for me, but when God gives you hope, it is something to be shared. Many times during that period, I would look up and say “I trust you, Lord.” We will go through sickness and heartaches, but God is with us for the journey.
I feel there are so many people to thank, but of course it is Jesus I thank most of all. Jesus rescued me in spite of me. He accepted me just the way I was, but praise be, He loves me enough to change me. Forgiveness to me means I do not have to let the effects of this world stop my place in salvation. Jesus redeemed me; He provides the cleansing and allows me in His presence. He gave me a right standing before the Father. Jesus is my Savior, and I could never do enough to thank Him.
I also want to thank the pastors who supported me through my spiritual journey: the late Reverend Fred Mayhew, the late Reverend Fred Markusic, the Reverend Don Monaco, the Reverend Joe Congemi, the Reverend A. J. Platt, and the Reverend Kenny Franklin. Thank you for the countless hours we have spent together in prayer, where spiritual growth took place that still inspires me today. Thank you also to Sandra Lucas for her encouragement, support, suggestions, and editing, and to my church family and especially my Sunday school class, whose presence kept me accountable to searching for the truth in the Word of God.
I thank my son, David, for teaching me to love without expectations. I thank my daughter, April, for putting up with me—and as an English teacher getting me through my years in seminary. I am so proud of her. I have some of my greatest joy in watching April and her husband, Shawn, nurture and love my granddaughter, Linley.
Linley, thank you for all the times you have Grannie play, have fun, and just enjoy life through the wonders of your vision. You are the dream that came true.
INTRODUCTION
There was a time when I was in the wilderness. I remember feeling that God was there for other people, but asking “What about me?” I heard pastors and others within the congregation talking about this relationship with Christ, and yet I had silent questions like “Where is God in my life?” I was seeking and praying and not getting the answers I was looking for.
It was in this unanswered prayer that I began my search through the scriptures. Along that path I found that I was connecting to God and His love for me. My experience was peace and hope even in the unanswered prayer, and not the answer I was seeking.
Through the many years since, I have had the desire to share with others that which I myself received. This is not just a book, and not just a journal, but a path for your personal journey and connection with God.
It is my hope that through your forty days of scripture reading, prayer, and connecting with God’s heart, you will create habits to carry you through life. His Divine presence is with you. This is your sacred time with God.
As you approach each day, take your time with the scripture, meditating on the words. I suggest that you read the scripture passage and the prayer provided for each day, and then go back and read the scripture again. Ask yourself the following questions:
• What resonates within me?
• What is God saying to me?
• What do I want to say to God?
Then write your own prayer in the space provided. It is here that I believe God will speak to you, and it is here that your heart will connect with God’s.