Book Addict Confessions: Whispers of Hope Devotional (Giveaway)
In case you forgot, I love to read. Stacks of books seem to pile up all over the house — most of them half read. Other women buy shoes; I buy books.
I am happy to report that I finally managed to finish reading one book from cover to cover this year, so today, I am sharing my insights on this great read.
Photo Credit: BH Publishing Group
In Whispers of Hope: 10 Weeks of Devotional Prayer, Beth Moore helps her readers put prayer into practice by pairing Scripture reading with prayer journaling. Each of the 70 devotionals is followed by a journal entry using the “P.R.A.I.S.E” format: Praise, Repentance, Acknowledgement of God’s authority, Intercession, Supplication for Self, and Equipping (asking God to empower you for a victorious day).
Here some “Take away” truths that captured my attention:
Be a neon sign: “We are stones rolled away, giving them [people who have given up on finding real life] a glance in the empty tomb. We provide evidence that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Do yourself and your neighbors a big favor. Don’t wait for death to really live. Tell God you want to be a neon sign of life–lingering proof of the resurrection” (p. 23).
Make prayer a habit: “Beloved, we’re living in the lions’ den. Victory is ours when we walk with God daily in habitual prayer, when we know His Word well enough to trust His sovereignty, and when we cast ourselves on Him and make an honest plea for help. He derives great satisfaction from shutting that lion’s mouth” (p. 41).
Get off the roller-coaster: “How we define and exercise faith makes all the difference in our lives. Believers in Christ must place their faith in one of two factors: either what God does or who God is. If we place our faith in what God is doing, we should brace ourselves for a lifelong roller-coaster ride. Our faith will be high and mighty one day and free-falling the next because it is based on the apparent activity of God in our circumstances…Many answers will never come; much of His activity will never be seen. Victorious faith walks evolve from seeking Him” (p. 112).
God’s got me covered: “We have His thumbprint on us the moment we’re conceived and the imprint of His little finger the moment we leave. Every moment in between, we’re covered by His love. Every moment of our belief, we’re covered by His blood. And when the last breath is drawn, if we are His own, He wraps His arms around our lives and takes us safely home” (p. 209).
I loved this devotional, and I’ve already purchased a couple of copies for friends in need of encouragement. The truths that Beth unpacks in these pages helped fortify my thinking during a difficult season and reminded that God is always at work. I must fight on my knees and keep my eyes firmly focused on my Savior, rather than give in to defeat. He’s already won the victory!
I’m giving away a copy of the Whispers of Hope Devotional!
I would love to hear about what you are reading. Feel free to share in the comment section below and then click on the Rafflecopter to be entered in a Giveaway of Beth’s awesome devotional book.
Just make sure to enter on or before April 20th to participate.
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I am sharing “Whispers of Hope” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace,Let us Grow, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Live Free Thursday, Grace Moments, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Three-Word Wednesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Testimony Tuesday, and Sharing His Beauty.
Sounds like just the book I need to read right now! Thanks for the opportunity to win, Lyli! I hope things are going better for you, your husband, and grandpa. I am praying for you!
This devotional looks like a must read. The journaling exercises sound especially helpful.
My mom gave me this book for Christmas a few years ago – I love it! Great devotional. Thanks for sharing, Lyli!
I just finished Barbara Brown Taylor’s AN ALTAR IN THE WORLD … and am continuing to make my way through Adam McHugh’s THE LISTENING LIFE.
Good stuff …
ooooh, this looks like a good one! I hadn’t heard of it, but I love Beth Moore!
I’m going to have to find this. I know it’s in one of the piles of books. I’m motivated to get with it. Blessings to you and yours! Marie
I followed you on Facebook.
I’ve been looking for a new devotional and this looks great!
Beth Moore has a great way of getting to the heart of a matter very quickly. I appreciate her willingness to discuss that topic even if it is a sensitive subject.
Lyli, I love Beth Moore and this sounds fantastic! I love, love, love the neon sign reference! I can just hear her voice saying something like that with her cute southern drawl! 🙂
BTW – I’m like you. Books everywhere (but I kinda like shoes, too 🙂 ) that are half read. I eventually finish them all but it takes me awhile! I just get too excited to read the next one! lol!
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
I think I must have the first edition of that book – it is wonderful!
Sounds like a great book! I have some book from Beth and she is an amazing writer. Would love to read this one as well.
Lyli – I too have piles and piles of books waiting to be read, or in the midst of being read. I even have books on my kindle waiting to be finished, so we are very similar in that regard. Thank you for sharing your review of Beth’s devotional, I like that she has interactive journal exercises to go with the lessons. Thanks for sharing today at #CoffeeForYourHeart where we are neighbors.
I like books better than shoes, too, Lyli. 🙂 This sounds like a great one. I love the “takeaway truths.” Blessings to you!
I love love books too! I currently have a stack piling up on my coffee table as well as a to read list on my Kindle. I recently finished Love Does by Bob Goff…so so good as well as my blog friend Kaitlyn’s book Even If Not..a must read too! I just started Annie F. Down’s new book “Looking for Lovely” and I cannot put it down. So so good! Blessed to be your neighbor at Three Word Wednesday today!
I’m such a book addict too. Sigh. I can hardly start one book before I’m ready to get a new one. Thankfully I typically get them free from my library or free to review so at least it’s not a financial burden, just a time burden. ha. Sounds like this Beth Moore book is a great read! Thanks for sharing, Lyli.
Lyli, I loved your review of Beth Moore’s Whispers of Hope devotional. I bought it in May 2000 after returning from a life-changing trip to Israel with Beth Moore and 850 other ladies for the filming of her Bible Study, Jesus the One and Only. I wrote in the journal for 70 days, 10 weeks, and by the end of that time, I was committed to my daily quiet time. I asked God to wake me up at 5:00am to be with Him, and He has been faithful to do that every day since then for the last 16 years…truly, all is grace! Many blessings to you!
Such a timely post, Lyli. I woke up listening to a radio discussion about the way our nation looks to the rest of the world with this chaos that has erupted with the presidential race. And it made me sad to think that when there is so much need, both here and abroad that even as a follower of Christ I have found time to listen ( and follow) the silliness that much of the campaign trail has become.
Great verses and always such a kind and winsome introspection.
Blessings!
Dawn
Ok.. that comment seems out of place because I meant to comment on your Thought Provoking Thursday post and I must have scrolled down to far.. :)oh, my!
I love Beth Moore’s teaching style and putting prayer and journals together is awesome. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this resource!
Blessigns,
Dawn
Hi Lyli, I’m stopping over from the Let us grow link-up.Thanks for sharing this resource. I’ve been blessed by other Beth Moore material and this devotional sounds like a great one!
Many Blessings,
Hannah
This sounds like a great book. Thank you for sharing at Let Us Grow!
I am an avid reader too! I just finished “Jesus Called” by Ray Johnston. I found it very interesting and encouraging to me to change some of my attitudes. I also have just started my first coloring book for Christian adults, “Live Free” by Margaret Feinberg. I am coloring my first pic in it and am memorizing the Scripture in it at the same time, Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
I am almost done with Whispers of Hope, and I don’t want it to end! I am on the hunt for the book to follow it with — any recommendations?