Becky Harling - The 30-Day Praise Challenge

Part One

the challenge

Part Two

30 days of praise

Part Three

taking it further

contents

THE 30-DAY PRAISE CHALLENGE

Published by David C Cook

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David C Cook Distribution Canada

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David C Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved throughout the world. www.zondervan.com . Scripture quotations marked NLV are taken from the New Life Version Bible, copyright 1969 by Christian Literature International. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked PH are taken from J.B. Phillips: The New Testament in Modern English, revised edition, 1958, 1960, 1972, permission of Macmillian Publishing Co. and Collings Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

LCCN 2013936242

ISBN 978-0-7814-0895-0

eISBN 978-1-4347-0599-0

2013 Becky Harling

The Team: John Blase, Liz Heaney, Nick Lee, Tonya Osterhouse, Karen Athen

Cover Design: Amy Konyndyk

Cover Photo: istockphoto.com

First Edition 2013

Photo by LifeTouch Photography

Becky Harling is a sought-after speaker and the author of several books. Beckys husband, Steve, is pastor at Foothills Community Church in Arvada, Colorado. Becky and Steve have four grown children and four grandchildren.

www.beckyharling.com

If you enjoyed this title, visit DCCeBooks.com for more great reads.

To

Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, Healer, Savior, and Friend.

I live to praise You!

foreword

Why should you take Beckys 30-day praise challenge? I know why. Let me tell you. Because Becky has a lot to teach you. You see, I had a front-row seat watching Becky struggle with cancer and a double mastectomy at age forty-two. I wept with her as she walked through healing from sexual abuse. I watched and marveled that through it all, this amazing woman praised God. Beckys vibrant praise and worship lifted her heart and mind above the horrible circumstances that swirled about her. Praise literally lifted Becky from the painful prison of her circumstances.

So I say, Take this praise challenge!

When I took the 30-day praise challenge, a truth from each day spoke to me. No pain or trouble was left out. And I believe each praise day will minister to you as well. I also think that one day youll turn the page and God will have an aha moment for youmaybe a name or quality of your great God will make you feel softly loved; or youll have a moment of realization that Becky understands how difficult your life is right now, and it will feel good to be understood.

When I took the 30-day praise challenge, I loved the way each of the thirty days of praise had four unique parts:

The Invitation A personal love message from Abba inviting you to come to Him

Listen A list of praise songs for you to listen to as you praise God

Pray A praise prayer that can help guide you

Journal A place for you to record your personal response

I can promise you that this praise challenge:

will draw you closer to God

will make your faith grow

will fill you with hope

will envelop you with the Fathers love

Whether you are facing cancer, dont have a job, are on a pain-filled healing journey, or are just stuck in a rut that makes life seem unbearable, Becky says you can praise your way out. Its true; Ive watched Becky do just that! And the 30-day praise challenge declares that you can discover your way out of pain and panic through praise! So take the challenge. Youll be glad you did!

Linda Dillow, author of Whats It Like to Be Married to Me? and Calm My Anxious Heart

give praise a chance

For the past twelve years I have participated in a practice that has radically changed my life. I began right after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Scared and stressed out at the thought of a double mastectomy, worried about my kids and whether I would be alive to finish raising them, anxious and paralyzed over the thought of a year full of treatments, I decided to fast, pray, and beg God for healing and peace of mind. When I told my mentor about my plan, she had another idea. She challenged me to spend twenty minutes a day for a week in pure praise. At the time I remember thinking, Why in the world would I do that? Wont it be hypocritical to praise God if Im not feeling thankful? After wrestling with her suggestion, I decided I had nothing to lose. I may as well give praise a chance.

Tackling that challenge was the beginning of an extraordinary adventure. As I devoted twenty minutes of every day to praising God, I developed a strong sense of His presence. Praise awakened my heart to His voice. Many mornings before my alarm went off, He woke me up with an invitation that went like this: Wake up, My child. Come and be with Me. Praise Me and enjoy My presence. I came to realize that God was excited to have me come and spend time with Him. He longed for intimacy with me. That thought alone boggled my mind.

As I continued the practice of private praise, Gods presence became more tangible, and I began to change into a more positive, confident, and secure woman. The transformation I have experienced is undeniable. Praise changed me from being fearful, frantic, and insecure to being a calm person filled with passion and purpose.

Before taking the praise challenge, I found it difficult to feel Gods love for me. After I took the challenge, I found myself experiencing His love beyond anything I imagined. Before, I sometimes felt abandoned by God. Afterward, His presence in my life became more concrete and I found it easier to trust Him. I am more convinced than ever that establishing intentional time for private praise is critical to transformation in the life of the believer.