My newly released book, Honey from the Comb, follows the ACTS pattern for prayer--Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. In coming days we will look at the other sections, but today, lets think about Adoration. Adoration is praising God for who he is and what he is like. It focuses on his character more than on the specifics of what he has done. (That is the job of thanksgiving.) The passages in the first section of Honey from the Comb are chosen to help you meditate on different aspects of who God is. The idea is to read a line and pray it back to God, telling him how true it is and why it matters to you right now. A dear friend in our church passed away last week from cancer. Her family are much on my mind today as I think about God, our Comforter. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 Lord, I know you heal the brokenhearted. Bind up the wounds of Char's family right now. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 Lord, I praise you because you come close to the brokenhearted. May Char's family know your presence in a special way at this time. Perhaps you are hurting right now or know someone who is. Use these verses from the Adoration section of Honey from the Comb to worship our great God and guide your prayers. ComforterThe God who experienced rejection when he walked this earth, wept at the grave of a friend, and died a painful death, knows how to comfort his children in all situations. He has sent his Holy Spirit to live in us so we will not feel abandoned like orphans, but reach out with his comfort to others. As you read these verses, rest in that comfort and praise the One who is able to comfort those you know who need to experience it today.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; Psalm 68:5-6b In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? I will declare your name to my people; in the congregation I will praise you. You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Psalm 22:1, 22-24 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3 Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more. Psalm 71:20-21 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:16-18 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Honey from the Comb is available in both print and electronic formats. The Kindle version is on sale for only $0.99 for a limited time. Sample chapters of all sections can be found on the webpage.
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AuthorLeAnne Hardy has lived in six countries on four continents. Her books come out of her cross-cultural experiences and her passion to use story to convey spiritual truths in a form that will permeate lives. Add http://www.leannehardy.net/1/feed to your RSS feed.
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