"Our Cry For Revival" (Nick Harrison)

TITLE: Our Cry for Revival: 365 Devotions and Prayers for an Outpouring of God’s Spirit
AUTHOR: Nick Harrison
PUBLISHER: Brentwood, TN: B&H Publishing, 2024, (384 pages).
 

"Revival comes only through prayer," so declares the author of this book of daily devotionals. Throughout history, prayer has been the common trait in any revival movements recorded. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the Early Church to the present evangelical movements, God moves chiefly through the prayers of His people. The patriarchs touched God's heart through prayer. The prophets of old prayed constantly for God to intervene in their decaying world. The Pentecost event occurred when the disciples were praying together in unity. In our modern era, we have the First (18th Century) and Second Great Awakening (19th Century), the Azusa Street (20th Century), the Asbury Revival (1970), as well as the Asbury University blessing (2023), etc. All of these have one common thread: Earnest Prayer and Fast. How do we turn our prayers into desperate cries for revival? According to Nick Harrison, this devotional can be that guide. It is a daily guide through the whole year. Each day begins with a selected Scripture passage followed by a short devotion. Following that is a wise quote from a well-known believer, evangelist, pastor, preacher, professor, or spiritual writer. At the end of the devotion is a prayer prompt to kick start our prayer for revival. Written in an accessible and easy-to-read format, it takes less than a few minutes to read through the page. The reflection and prayer can last longer, perhaps throughout the day. 

The author believes that God creates a hunger in people for revival. Led by the Spirit, the people will start pouring out prayers in faith consistently and passionately. This is not a quick-fix solution. It is a call to sense God's calling, direction, and timing. With earnest praying comes various spiritual practices like confession, repentance, and obedience. As the popular song "Pass It On" says, "It only takes a spark to get the fire going." Our role then is to be spiritually flammable so that when God's spark comes, we ignite and become fire for God. We connect with God and with people. We then obey where the Spirit leads us toward. That is what revival is all about. 

Churches today need revival and they need it desperately. May this book spur more to join in the community of prayer for revival first in our immediate communities, then our neighbourhoods, our cities, our states, our nations, and throughout the world.

Nick Harrison is the author of more than a dozen books including Magnificent Prayer, The One-Year Life Recovery Prayer Devotional and five books in the One-Minute® Prayer series, including One-Minute Prayers® When You Need a Miracle. His books have been endorsed by Anne Graham Lotz, Jim Cymbala, Tony Evans, Sheila Walsh, Chip Ingram, and Lee Strobel. Nick has a background in the book world both as a bookstore owner and as a senior editor at Harvest House Publishers. Nick and his wife, Beverly are the parents of three grown daughters and grandparents to two boys and two girls.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of B&H Publishing via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"365 Ways to Find Peace" (edited by Marcus Braybrooke)

TITLE: 365 Ways to Find Peace: Meditations & Inspirations
AUTHOR: Edited by Marcus Braybrooke
PUBLISHER: London, UK: Watkins, 2019, (208 pages).

Beauty contestants spout it. World leaders talk about it. Social activists display placards for it. Writers pen their hopes for it. World peace. This book opens with a promise to help readers find peace or some semblance of peace in this often troubled and tumultuous world. Its basic premise is that we all need reminders that "deep stillness and tranquility" is possible. So the author combs widely for snippets and ways to find such peace. With this search for tranquility the main purpose, editor Marcus Braybrooke draws inspiration from multiple religions, philosophers, sacred books, poems, parables, songs, hymns, selections from cultures that range from East and West. All in all, there are 365 writings. Some are as short as a single line while others are as long as a full page.

The 365 selections are subdivided into three categories:

1. The Centre of Being;
2. The Inner Circle of Love;
3. The Outer Circle of Spirit.

Part One is based on the premise that self-love is a vital foundation for relationships. Admitting that it may seem to be self-centered at first, Braybrooke asserts that it brings about a stability that is needed for the building of love outward. The selections are based on elements of true self; self-esteem; inner strength; stillness; inner wisdom; giving; thankfulness; attentiveness; humility; simplicity; wonder; etc. These are the virtues for cultivating a being that is secure and tranquil. Part Two moves on to the Inner Circle of Love, which covers topics of empathy; selflessness; compassion; friendship; family; etc. There is a bigger element of community and loving others. Part Three  is about "Outer Circle of Spirit" which moves beyond the physical realm toward the transcendental.

My Thoughts
For an eclectic collection of works from such a diverse group of people and perspectives, it is hoped that some of these would touch the general reader searching for meaning and peace in their lives. Some readers might try to go through the book thinking that they would find peace. Not all the works could do that. Maybe a few snippets of inspiration might help settle our restless minds. Also, it depends on the readers' personal faith and background. It could be uncomfortable for those who hold a different religious perspective from some of the contributors in this book. For that, I would urge readers not to give up on the book entirely. There are good things to learn from, even though some may not meet our expectations. If something works, then its good. If not, simply move on and not feel too troubled about it.

What is helpful for me is to recognize the diversity of views with regard to the words peace and tranquility. I am aware of the many different definitions of what true peace is. For starters, just see this work as an effort to bridge the gaps between different perspectives, religious thought, and desire for world peace. There is no one size fits all and this book definitely didn't purport to play that role. The hope is that in the reading of these book, if one could find a way toward the peace that one seeks, it would have been a worthy read.

Rating: 3.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Watkins Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"It Is Well With My Soul" (Shelly Beach)

TITLE: It Is Well With My Soul:Meditations for Those Living with Illness, Pain and the Challenges of Aging
AUTHOR: Shelly Beach
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers, 2012, (240 pages).

This book takes the same title of the world famous hymn by Horatio Spafford. Like Spafford who struggles a lot with the loss of his loved ones, the author struggles a lot with the loss of her mental faculties. Reflecting on her own neurological condition, whether it is stroke, aneurysm, or cancer, the author enters into a time in and out of hospitals, in and out of consciousness and unconsciousness, and face to face with the deep personal loneliness, and yet still able to experience the divine presence of God. Through her process, Beach encounters grief, anger, depression, joy, grace, and the role of advocates. She plumbs the deepest valley of despair and also experiences the high mountains of hope. The book parallels the hymn, "It is Well with My Soul" through six reflections.

The first reflection is about "Devastation, Doubt, and Deliverance," of seeing how Spafford grapples with the reality of loss and pain, and how Beach personally experiences physical pain, and how it affects faith and doubt. Each brief reflection comprises a personal journey through a particular emotion, followed by an honest appraisal of her spiritual walk with God. There is a prayer to surrender to God's mercy. Each chapter ends with two questions to grapple with the hard questions of life.   The second reflection is on the trials of pain, the temptation of doubt and denial, and the triumph of faith and belief. The third section deals with searching for meaning amid the depression, stretching one's prayer and faith as the trials are extended, and realizing the significance of hanging on to God in prayer. Life seems so unfair when after her earlier discharge from hospital in 1999, her long distance travel, her parents' health all increase her stress level, leading her toward anger and being overwhelmed. The fourth section deals with family, forgiveness, and freedom. She learns that it is only through forgiveness and gratitude that one can shape relationships. She relates how her faith in God helps her to forgive others because she had first being forgiven. Prayers of desperation are also called "Fed-Ex Prayers."

Beach learns several spiritual disciplines as well. Such as learning to notice the ordinary people placed before her each day, or the opportunity to give away material goods to bless people, or to renew past connections, and many more. Section Five talks about "help, heartache, and heaven," which is a journey trust from despondency to dependency, from feeling alone to experiencing the presence of heaven. Section Six concludes the book with the need to avoids lies, to begin legacies, and to learn to let go.  The Appendices at the back of the book offer great tips on prayer, resources for help with regards to healthcare, a bibliography of books about physical and spiritual health, how to cope with stress and tips on hospice.

We will all age one day. Each of us has to carry our own cross, travel our own journey, and experience our own ups and downs. There is no short-cut in the reality of life. To go through the trials and at the end of it all, still able to say, "It is Well With my Soul," is not simply a brave attempt to keep up a stoic front. It is a posture of quiet trust, of growing faith, and of eternal hope that is anchored on the One and Only Saviour of the world, Jesus. A book of this nature is not an easy one to write. Readers can easily sense the agony and the pain the author goes through. At the same time, there is a strong desire that believes that one day, it will all be over, and it will all be revealed that it is God who will make all things news, and all things whole.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Discovery House Publishers and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

"Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent"

TITLE: Silence and Other Surprising Invitations of Advent
AUTHOR: Enuma Okoro
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2012, (128 pages).

The Advent comes from the Latin word 'Adventus,' which means 'coming,' or 'arriving.' It is a month-long expectation of the remembrance of the birth of Jesus Christ, the new born King. For many Christians, it is also the mark of a new liturgical year. Thus, technically, we can call the first Sunday of December as the New Year's Day for Christians.

Here in this book, the biblical characters of Zechariah and Elizabeth are revisited in the first two weeks. This is followed by Elizabeth, Mary, and John in Week 3, ending with a summary of community involvement in Week 4. 

What this book aims to accomplish is to help readers appreciate the way God has surprised the unexpected, silenced the faithless, and slowly but gradually turn despair to hope, barrenness to conception, doubt to trust, longing to belonging.  Arranged in daily readings, each day comprises a short title to hold one's thought, followed by a Bible passage. A short reflection is then read, followed by a call to prayer. At the end of each Advent week, there is a "Personal Reflection" to help readers pause and examine themselves about their own spiritual longings and positions. This seventh day contains more scripture passages and a "prayerful challenge" for readers to actively engage themselves with. There are also guides for small groups, as well as other Advent readings for congregational activities. 

Easy to use and pleasant to read, this book of Advent readings can be readily picked up and used by leaders in any Advent setting. This is a good book for the season.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me free by Upper Room Books and NetGalley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.