2 8 d a y€¦ · the best part of the day for you to spend time with god is an important factor to...

| - 2 8 D A Y - |A D O R A T I O N P R A Y E R D E V O T I O N A L

WorshipFully.org

by Joel Gerdis

Adoration Prayer has changed my entire life. Implementing thisdiscipline has created more breakthrough in my walk with Godthan all my previous spiritual exercises combined. When youpursue God for His true nature you will find Him! When you know Him you will love Him.When you love Him you will believe Him.When you believe Him you will see His glory. KNOW > LOVE > BELIEVE > SEE I am confident you will experience breakthrough!

- A Few Thank You's - Ben Woodward led the adoration prayer workshop I attendedmany years ago where I found crazy spiritual breakthrough. Ican never really fully express the impact Ben's faithfulness hashad on my life. You can find many great adoration prayerresources at BenWoodward.com. I also had some very faithful friends help edit this eBook. Avery special thank you to Kelly Brock and Katherine Ussery.Thank you for taking the time to put all the commas wherethey belong and helping me not sound like a caveman. Thank you to my lovely wife, Toby for creating space for me tocreate with the Lord, and for putting your touch on this eBook. (all images used with persmission through Canva)

INTRODUCTION

© WorshipFully 2020 | All rights reservedwww.WorshipFully.org

http://benwoodward.com/

"God, who do I need to know You as, right now?"

Take as much time as you need to listen. When you have a name or attribute in mind, write it down. Then, either use the Adoration Prayer Book available on the website, or jump on Google and search for scriptures that relate to the name or character attribute of God you feel led to pursue. Use the following pages to write down the scriptures that you feel describe God’s name and character well. As you write them down, you will discover that itcauses you to meditate on these words in a whole new way. Findat least 15-20 scriptures. Once you’ve written them down, go backover them and pray them OUT LOUD to God. Begin by telling Him,“I love You God because You are ---," and then pray the scripture.Just keep repeating this rhythm. You will find that prayer willeventually begin to take on a new life, full of color and dimension.

Now that you have taken theAdoration Prayer eCourse, you knowthat developing disciplines that helpyou get to know God are of utmostimportance. When you know God, thenyou can’t help but love Him. When youlove Him, it will be easy to believe Him.When you believe Him, you will see Hisglory.

Hopefully by now, you have asked the all-important question, “God,who do I need to know you as, right now?” If not…do it now. Get still…find a place where you aren’t distracted...and dismiss your heart’sdesire to fill in the blank. Give God voice…let Him supply the name orcharacter attribute that He specifically has in mind for youpersonally.

DAY ONE


01 JUST GET STARTED

https://worshipfully.org/adoration-prayer-online-workshop/



Adoration Scriptures"God! I love You because...."


1

God I love You because You are good.Father, I remember how You have displayed Your Goodness to mewhen...Father, I love Your word. Psalms 119:68 says, "You are good, andwhat you do is good; teach me your decrees." Father, help me believe Your word where it says (insert scripture)God, I love You because Your nature is good. (insert scripture)How could I have ever doubted that You were good? Your wordsays...God, help me know and understand your nature. God, give me arevelation of Your name and character as good.

Watch the video "Writing Original Adoration Prayers", on theeCourse page. It is full of writing prompts and tips that will help youcreate your own adoration prayers. Attribute example: God is Good


Adoration Scriptures


2"God! I love You because...."

DAY TWORemember...almost no one feels like a“Pro” at adoration prayer at first. Youhave to push through the awkwardfeelings of:1. Hearing your own voice out loud.

2. Being confronted with possible

doubts or unbelief.

3. Wondering if God even hears you

at all.

Let me reassure you…He hears you! He is closer than the bloodthat is running through your veins. 1 Corinthians 6:17 says, "But he who is joined to the Lord is onespirit with Him." Your spirit and His spirit have become onespirit. He can't get any closer. He also loves your voice...He madeyour voice and He loves hearing you talk to Him. After youpray through your adoration scriptures today, spend a fewminutes writing down how it makes you feel to use adorationscriptures to guide your prayers. What are the thoughts runningthrough your head? Are you enjoying this? Does any of thismake you feel awkward? Do you sense God is present withyou?


02 IS THIS REAL?

DAY THREEWhen you pray, do you ever key intothe fact that God is actually withyou? Do you realize He lives insideyou? He has taken up residence INYOU! 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, "Do you notknow that you are a temple of Godand that the Spirit of God dwells inyou?”

While you are praying adoration scriptures today, tune intoGod's presence IN you. Tell Him that you love Him and turnyour heart towards delighting in Him. Be aware of His nearness. How has seeing God in you caused you to think about Himdifferently? Journal your thoughts about how this makes youfeel. You might be breaking years of internal beliefs that havetold you that God is distant or hard-of-hearing. You also mightbe discovering some of the deep, deep things you believe justaren’t true. Confess those misguided views on paper and thenwrite down the REAL truth about how near your Father reallyis!


03 WHERE IS GOD?

DAY FOURHave you discovered that you aremore successful at doing certainactivities during certain times of theday? I've never been a morningperson. I like working on activities inthe afternoon or evening. Choosingthe best part of the day for you tospend time with God is an importantfactor to consider.

We don't always get to spend time with God in prayer at themost ideal times. Sometimes we just have to make a sacrificeand wake up early or go to bed a little later to squeeze in someprayer. I like to use my drive time to adore God. I also go onwalks a few times a week and that is a great time to adore Him. What about you? When have you naturally scheduled time toadore God? If you could have some moments of spontaneousadoration, when and where would you like to try it? Write downsome ideas.


04 WHAT TIME IS IT?

DAY FIVEThink about the objects you useeveryday. Consider your bathroommirror…this would be a great place toput a post-it note with your favoriteadoration scripture. Has any particularscripture you've written down on youradoration pages jumped out at you orbecome a favorite to pray? I often callthis my “anchor scripture”.

I use this term because I feel like it somehow embodies theessence of the name or attribute of His that I am pursuing. Insome way, it becomes the capstone of my adoration journal andprayers. I write my “anchor scripture” on a post-it and place iton my bathroom mirror. I also put that same scripture on apost-it and place it on the dashboard of my car. I find that Ipray it so often, I memorize the scripture easily and can recall itmonths later. Do you have an "anchor scripture”? It is ok if none of themjump off the page at this point. After adoring God today, chooseone scripture to write on one or more post-it notes. Place themsomewhere you can't miss them. Which scripture did you pick? Where will you place the post-its? Why did you pick this scripture? Write down yourthoughts.


05 BATHROOM MIRROR

DAY SIX

I am totally a nature guy. What aboutyou? Do you connect with God betterinside or outside? Do you like urbanenvironments or trails? Do you likedimly lit rooms with instrumentalmusic playing, or do you prefer brightrooms and a warm cup of coffeewhile you spend time with God?When we discover the answers tothese questions, we can more oftendetermine how to better succeed inour time spent with God.

Mick Jagger was right when he said, "you can't always get whatyou want.” But, some days, we have a choice and we candetermine our surroundings. I've had some amazing encounterswith God in church pews, barns, and on hiking trails. It can besuper beneficial for you to know your own preferences more precisely. So how about it? Would you rather be inside or outside? Whattypes of weather do you prefer? Which is best - oceans ormountains? Would you rather be on your couch with yourNIV, or on your lazy boy with your King James Bible? Writedown some of your preferences and get as detailed as you want.Tell God where you like meeting with Him most.


06 INSIDE OR OUTSIDE

DAY SEVENSo how is it really going? Still feelinga little awkward? If so, that's ok. Iremember spending two or threeweeks in that phase. But, when youreach the moment where God poursrevelation into your heart, it will all beworth it! Breakthrough is on the otherside of persistence.

You are giving yourself a gift when you commit to adorationprayer. God is a rewarder of those who seek Him in the secret.You WILL experience breakthrough. Continue asking the Holy Spirit to help you believe the wordsyou are praying. God wants you to have the same belief thatJesus has. Jesus has no doubt about Himself or His Father.Jesus modeled sonship for us perfectly. The Father wants tomake you a confident son or daughter. He is more committed tothis process than you are. Write a prayer asking Him to helpyou believe everything you've been praying.


07 KEEP PRESSING ON

DAY EIGHTIn Mark 4, Jesus talks about how the kingdom of God is like farming. Hisword is the seed and the farmer sowsthe seed. Jesus describes many typesof ground the seed can fall on. Youmight be tempted to personallyidentify with some of the types ofground where the seed is choked outor doesn't take root.

However, you don't even have to think about the other types ofground. You are the farmer and the good soil. This journey ofadoring God that you are on is you, scattering seed. Your dailyactivity of praying the same scriptures over and over again isyou, partnering with your Father's words and keeping the seedplanted. Psalm 119:11 says, "I have hidden Your word in myheart that I might not sin against You.” The good news is thatyou are not responsible for making the seed grow. The pressureis OFF! You plant the seed, and keep it planted. God will grow it. A harvest of belief and faith is coming. Have you identified with the other types of ground before? I know I did. Write a prayer declaring yourself to be the "goodsoil" and thank God for growing His word in you. Ask God for a 100-fold harvest that Jesus described in Mark 4:20.


08 YOU ARE GOOD SOIL

DAY NINE

When we intentionally pursue God forHis names and nature, we are turningour faces, hearts, and minds towardHim. Colossians 3:1-2 says, "If then youhave been raised with Christ, seek thethings that are above where Christ is,seated at the right hand of God. Setyour minds on things that are above,not on things that are on earth."

When we do this, we are learning to hope. Hope is powerful. It isnot some weak human sentiment. Hope unlocks faith, and faithcan move mountains. It all starts with hoping in God and HisWord. Think about your salvation. How did it happen? Youheard God's Word and His invitation to the free gift of salvation.You accepted the free gift simply by professing with your mouthand believing in your heart. That is how hope works. You hearthe Word of God and then begin choosing to hear it, profess it,and believe it in your heart. By continuing to profess it, you areletting it take root in you. You are keeping the seed of His wordplanted. Adoration prayer is facing His Light and drinkingLiving Water. It is everything the seed needs. Ask God to helpyou hope in Him more. Write down an honest prayer and askHim to show you new ways to hope.


09 LEARNING TO HOPE

DAY TEN

Have you ever experienced thedisappointment of dropping your icecream cone on the ground?Disappointing memories have a way ofsticking with us—for a long time. Ourmemories can be one of the biggesthurdles in our pursuit of God. Ourmemories and perceptions of our pastoften lie to us about God's character.

We don't even know we are doing it, but our disappointments orpast traumas have a way of shaping our understanding of God'scharacter. Subconsciously, we may frame God up as not caring,unconcerned, distant, absent, withholding, or even angry—basedon the experiences of our lives. When our belief grows in thetruth of God's nature, our minds and memories begin to behealed or corrected. The more we see Him rightly and believeHim, we will no longer think negatively about God. This is aprocess, but God is more invested than you are in helping youto see Him rightly. Ask Him to help you rewrite part of yourhistory. Think of a disappointment and ask Him where He was,what He was doing, and to replace any lie you believed aboutHim with the truth of who He really is. I provided another pageto write down the truth He may be revealing to you.


10 REWRITING HISTORY

Rewrite Your History


DAY ELEVEN

I recently spent some time studyingthe meaning of some of the letters inthe Hebrew alphabet, and I was soencouraged. Hebrew letters tell a storyand the first four letters basically say: The Lord is the strong leader of thehouse. He is a rich proud man thatgives to the poor man.

We are the poor man and when we take a posture of humility,we can receive from the rich, proud man (Our Father). You mayhave heard this too many times to count, but we need to hear itagain. He is strong when I am weak. We shouldn't pat ourselveson the back for being self-sufficient, because those who areself-sufficient have nothing to inherit from the Father. How areyou posturing your whole being in humility to receive from yourFather? Where are you taking credit for the good things in yourlife? How good are you at boasting in your weakness? If youthink you're humble, odds are you aren't. After your adorationprayers today, spend some time writing down things you arethankful for. Thank Him for anything and everything, andacknowledge it all comes from Him.


11 WEAKNESS & STRENGTH

DAY TWELVE

Not all of us had the world's bestdads. Some of us had really gooddads, but some of us had emotionallyor physically absent fathers, or evenworse, abusive fathers. Ourrelationship with our earthly fatherimpacts our relationship with Godgreatly.

Subconsciously, we often project the attitudes and actions ofour earthly fathers onto our Heavenly Father. God wants toundo this in our hearts and minds. This is so we can see He isn'tjust a little better than our ideas of Him. He is infinitely betterthan our best imaginations of Him. Your earthly father mayhave been physically present, but maybe he wasn't veryemotionally present. Maybe you knew he loved you, but yourarely or never heard those words come from his mouth. Maybeyou have no complaints about your earthly father. Would yoube willing to write down how you perceive, or perceived, yourearthly father? Also write down the truth of what God is tellingyou about the type of Father He is to you. Just let your pencilstart and see where it takes you. Make it a dialogue with God.


12 GOOD GOOD FATHER

GOOD GOOD FATHER


DAY THIRTEEN

One of my favorite jokes is, "I am notvery superstitious. I am just a littlestitious." The truth is, many of us livewith beliefs that are actuallysuperstitions. For example, the idea of the number 13 having some sort ofWOE attached to it. When youstep into Christ, you step into God'skingdom and the reality of Jeremiahchapter 29.

Do you really believe God's plans are to prosper you and to giveyou a hope and future? Do you really believe Romans 8:28 thatsays, "And we know that all things work together for good tothose who love God, to those who are the called according toHis purpose.” For a very long time, I did not believe that. I feltlike God was active, but it was mysterious, and He wasn't lettingme in on His plan. I really believed it was up to me to get stuffdone, provide for my family, and avoid potential catastrophes.Then I began believing His Word and everything slowlychanged. I stopped looking at every situation as good or bad,and began asking God what He was up to. What are somesuperstitions you might be believing? Are there any scripturesthat come up against these superstitions?


13 NO BAD LUCK

DAY FOURTEEN

When we persevere, we are promised itwill lead to character. It's interestingthat by adoring God, you are pursuingan intimate knowledge of His character.So even now, you may not haveexperienced a huge breakthrough, butby persevering, you are promised that a knowledge of His character isn't toofar off.

Adoration prayer may feel like a workout. You are using spiritualmuscles you may have never flexed before. When we learn to walk,it takes months of rolling, cruising, and failed attempts. Why wouldour spiritual development be any different? When a bird hatchesfrom an egg, research has proven the struggle is necessary. If youtry and help the baby bird hatch from the egg, you are actuallyputting its survival in jeopardy. God knows what you need, when you need it, and the exact amountof help you need. He also knows that part of the struggle isabsolutely necessary for us to reach the goal of character throughpersevering. In Matthew 13, Jesus tells us about the parable of the pearl. Whensomeone found the pearl, they sold everything to buy the field sothey could possess it. You are that pearl to God, and God wants tobe that pearl to you. Spend a moment and write down somethingyou worked really hard to possess, and thank God for His pursuit ofyou and tell Him that He possesses you!


14 PERSEVERNCE

PERSEVERENCE


DAY FIFTEEN

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all,with unveiled faces, beholding as in amirror the glory of the Lord, are beingtransformed into the same image fromglory to glory, just as by the Spirit ofthe Lord." There is a spiritual truththat will liberate you greatly if youcan really SEE it.


15 BEHOLD IN A MIRROR

This process of adoration prayer is learning that God is who Hesays He is, and that everything He says about you is also true.Some of the claims are astounding and are hard to wrap ourminds around. In Matthew 5, Jesus says, “YOU are the LIGHT ofthe world”. Romans 8:29 says, “For whom He foreknew, He alsopredestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that Hemight be the firstborn among many brethren”. You are beingmade into the exact likeness of Jesus. Let that sink in. Jesustells us in John 14, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believesin Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater worksthan these he will do, because I go to My Father." Really? Whenwe gaze upon God through His word we will walk more fully inthe reality of of what He says about us. What is something you struggle to believe that God says is trueof you in His word?

DAY SIXTEEN

Scripture never uses the word“Trinity”, but it is clear that the Biblerepeatedly describes God as theFather, The Son and the Holy Spirit,and how they are ONE. Deuteronomy6:4 says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord ourGod is one Lord.” Oneness is amazingand you are on the inside.

Jesus prays in John 17 and says, “I do not pray for these alone,but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believethat You sent Me.” You may need to reread this passage many times, but the truthis that Jesus' prayers are always answered. You have beenunified with God and invited to the table with the Trinity. Also read 1 Cor 2:16, 6:17, 12:12-13. We have been unified witheach other and with God in spirit, mind, and body. This shouldblow our minds and empower us. You have access to God fully,because you are one with Him. This might be a brand new truthto you. Take time, sit in the truth of His Word, and thank Godfor your oneness with Him and ask Him to help you believe itmore.


16 YOU'RE ON THE INSIDE

DAY SEVENTEEN

There is something powerful thathappens in the atmosphere when youproclaim the truth of God's name andnature over your life. I always imaginea proclamation coming with blastsfrom trumpets and a herald yelling,"Hear ye, hear ye!"

I ask the people who attend my adoration workshops to spendabout 10-15 minutes in groups praying through adorationscriptures together. When they get done, I ask them about theirexperience and the emotions they felt. I also tell them, "you justspent 15 minutes praying, and you didn't ask God for anything”.Some people stare back in shock. There is nothing wrong with telling God about your needs andcasting your cares on Him, but you may find the further downthe road of adoration prayer you get that your prayer life willchange. Instead of reminding God of your needs, you may beginto remind your needs about your God. . . "Hey need! Heycircumstance! I am yelling the name of my God. He is the Godwho Provides. He is the God of All Wisdom!" Try it now. Think of a circumstance or need and then proclaimGod's name and nature over it...OUT LOUD. You may want towrite it down first then pray it out loud—with some tenacity.


17 PROCLAMATION

PROCLAMATION!


DAY EIGHTEEN

Do you know what your name means?My name is Joel, and it means Jehovahis God. God's names are numerous anddescribe His character and essence.When we pray in His name, we are notmerely saying His name to neatlywrap up a prayer. No, when we praywe are actually “in His name.”

When we begin to really understand our oneness with the Lord,we may stop viewing our relationship so one dimensionally. Hisname isn't just something we say. Jesus said in the gospels,“When you see me, you've seen the Father.” He was so one withHis Father, that to see Jesus was to see the Father. When wepray, we are sitting in and positioned in His name. Our mindsshould be conscious of our oneness with Him. When David confronted Goliath he said, “You come against mewith sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in thename of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel,whom you have defied.” Ambassadors speak on behalf of theleader they represent. They represent that leader and speak "intheir name.” When you really know God's character and names,you will then be more qualified to speak "in His name" becauseyou know Him. What are you discovering about the name you've been focusedon in adoration prayer? Do you sense greater understanding ofGod's name or character? Write down any new insights orunderstanding you have. Try to articulate the name of Godyou've been pursuing.


18 IN HIS NAME

DESCRIBE GOD'S NAME


DAY NINETEEN

When I was 19 years old I spent fourmonths in Russia. For much of my time, I traveled with three Russian teenagers, who were led by the Spirit, and wouldgo anywhere they sensed God leading.This was a new experience for me. Iliterally packed a small bag of clothesand off we went for weeks at a time.

On one occasion we were walking toward a town at 11 pm thatwas over 30 km away. Less than an hour into our walk, one ofthe teens asked the Lord to send us a truck to take us to thetown. No vehicles had passed us the previous hour. Thirtyseconds later a truck came over the hill, stopped (with no wordsexchanged) and we climbed in. The driver took us straight to thehotel where we wanted to stay. Needless to say, I was amazed. God wants to lead us and provide in many ways. Many westernChristians have a mental belief that God is who He says He is,but that truth may not have made its way to their hearts. If tragedy or great need arise, are we consumed by worry andfear? Or will we let the truth of who God is, sink deeply into ourhearts where our sense of reality is shaped? Once you experience a little of God's nature and character inyour life, do you tend to want more? Or are you satisfied with asmall taste? I've been in both places, but I want to pursue moreof His nature in my life, and walk in the rest that He promisesHis children. How about you? Write about your experiences anddesires for more. How much of God do you want?


19 HE REALLY LEADS US

HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT?


DAY TWENTY

I used to dread prayer. It wasn'tenjoyable. When I did pray I would getout some words, not have a sense ofGod's presence, and check off the boxfor that spiritual practice. When Ibegan really knowing God as a resultof adoration prayer, I started reallyenjoying my time with Him.

Are you enjoying your time with Him yet? Sometimes romancewanes for couples, so when they try to rekindle their romance, itjust feels awkward. You just have to push through. My hope isthat by now you are sensing some change. I hope that you arebeginning to look forward to talking with your Father. You maynot be jumping up and down with joy yet, but your adorationprayer is your gift to Him and He loves it. Write down something you noticed this past week that youenjoyed. God loves it when we enjoy life. I love it when my kidstell me about things they enjoy or fun experiences they havehad. Was there something this past week you felt God smiled onor orchestrated in your life?


20 IT SHOULD BE ENJOYABLE

DAY TWENTY-ONE

Do you have any friends that wink atyou? Sometimes when people wink, itis just because they like or love you.Sometimes it is a surprise they knowabout, that you are about to discovertoo. God likes to wink at us. He is theGod of Psalm 23 that says, “Surely Hisgoodness and mercy will follow me allthe days of my life.”

Have you ever had something favorable happen, like being the100,000th customer at a grocery store and won a free year ofgroceries? Ok, that hasn't happened to me either, but there havebeen so many times in my life where God does something, orallows something good to happen to me that I wasn't expecting. Has God winked at you this week? Do you have eyes to seewhere He is at work? Do you simply pass off good things thathappen to you as random? What if God is winking? What if youallow your heart to believe God is in the details and enjoysgiving good gifts? Matthew 7:11b says, "...how much more willyour Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"What is something you want to ask Him for or something He'sdone for you this week?


21 GOD WINKS

DAY TWENTY-TWOIf I ask you, “Do you believe IN God?” youwould most likely say, “yes.” If I ask you,“do you BELIEVE God,” that is an entirelydifferent question. To believe God means that you believe everything He says, andthat He holds everything together by Hisword. Have you ever tried to articulatehow much you believe God? To the degreewe believe God; we will also trust Him toback up His Word.

Has God ever asked you to take a risk? I have taken risks based onwhat I thought He was leading me to do, but in hindsight, it wasn'trisky. It just felt risky because of my level of trust and belief. WhenI move beyond hoping God is who He says He is, and I find myselfconfident of His names and character, I realize I am "in faith”. Faithis being certain (confident) in the God I hope in. First we hope, andhope moves us towards faith. There is a third level, and it is love. “These three remain, faith, hopeand love, and the greatest of these is love.” It is easier to lovesomeone who demonstrates their nature and intentions toward usthrough action. Obviously, Jesus demonstrated His love by givingHis life for us. Name another way He has demonstrated His love foryou? What is something He has done for you recently? What nameor attribute would you connect with it?


22 REALLY KNOWING GOD

DAY TWENTY-THREE

I hope that your decision to adore Godover the course of these four weeks willlead to a new habit. But even more, Ihope that as you discover God's natureand character, that He will begin toshape your very sense of reality. God'sreality should be our reality. But whatis His reality?

Jesus tells the woman at the well that a time is coming whentrue worshippers will "worship in spirit and in truth." Truth is notonly true thoughts—it is God's description of reality. Jesus talkedmostly about His Father's kingdom, because when He describedthe kingdom, He was describing a new reality. If we continueliving this life by only what we see, we may be missing thereality of His kingdom in our lives. Romans 12:2 tells us, "do notconform any longer to the patterns of this world, but betransformed by the renewing of our minds..." What is something that you've been conforming to in thisworld? How is your Father inviting you to renew your mind?


23 SPIRIT AND TRUTH

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

Do you have any dreams that you havegiven up on? Was there a dream thatdied? One of God's attributes that Ilove is Dream Fulfiller. It can bedifficult to look back and dig in thoseold drawers of your life, but it is worthit. God loves resurrecting hope in you,especially when it comes to dreamsyou’ve let go.

In my thirties, I traveled and performed in bands, and my dreamwas to be a "rock star.” After some minor successes and somemajor disappointments, I hung up my "jersey," so to speak.It was years later that I remember the Lord inviting me todream again. However, I didn't want to dream again. My memory told me that dreaming leads to pain and disappointment. Godwas inviting me to trust Him. It wasn't easy or even clear to me,but I began walking towards the Dream Fulfiller. My old versionof the dream was “rock star,” and God's version was “Godadorer”- leading worship on stages of all sizes. I now know partof my call was to write and sing, but God had to help me reshapethe scope of the dream. I was making music before, but He hadto help reshape the details of the vision. Are you willing to take a step toward the Dream Fulfiller? Whatis a dream you have let go? Ask God to help you dream again soHe can inject His Hope.


24 DREAM FULFILLER

DREAM-FULFILLER


DAY TWENTY-FIVE

Sometimes God's promises seem so farbeyond us, that we don't even knowhow to hope. There was a time when ithadn't rained in Israel for many years,and the prophet Elijah prayed that itwould rain. In 1 Kings 18:41 it says,“Then Elijah said to Ahab, Go getsomething to eat and drink, for I hear amighty rainstorm coming!”

Now this was before there was any evidence of rain. Elijahrepeatedly made his servant go out and look for evidence.Then it says, “Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, Isaw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from thesea. At this announcement Elijah told Ahab to hurry and said, "Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry,the rain will stop you!” Is our faith growing to the point we hear the sound of rain without the visual evidence? Do we expect God to release thetorrents when we see the smallest of clouds appearing on thehorizon? Is there a promise of God you desire desperately to seein your life? Ask your Father to help you “hear the sound ofrain.” Ask Him to grow your faith until you expect the floodgatesto open at the site of a small cloud. Write a prayer and pray itout loud.


25 PROMISES OF GOD

DAY TWENTY-SIX

I vividly remember the images of “thewall” being torn down in East Berlin,Germany. It had stood to divide thecity since WWII. All it took was thecourage of Ronald Reagan telling otherworld leaders, “Tear down this wall.” Ican't express how monumental thosemoments, captured on video andphotos, were for the world to see.

All of Heaven rejoices when it comes to your breakthrough. Youare tearing down walls. All of Heaven rejoices when you receivethe free gift of salvation. Heaven also rejoices when you grow inyour faith and understanding of your identity in Christ. Hebrews12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great acloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sinwhich clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the racethat is set before us.” We are surrounded by a cloud ofwitnesses. They are cheering us all on. Write a paragraph below from God's perspective, cheering youon...just get the pencil moving... you know all His thoughts towardyou are good.


26 BREAKTHROUGH

My child! You are my treasured possession . . .

GOD CHEERING YOU ON


DAY TWENTY-SEVENJeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to Me, and Iwill answer you, and show you greatand mighty things, which you do notknow.” God is the God of Wonders. Hecreated it all. He invites us to ask Himabout “unsearchable things." You canask Him anything you want, but Heespecially likes it when we ask Himabout Him. Our great reward is gettingto know Him. Ask God what He is like. Ask Him to fill you with the knowledge

of what He is like. A favorite scripture of mine is Jeremiah 9:24“But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have theunderstanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exerciseskindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these Idelight, declares the Lord.” He wants us to boast that we knowand understand Him. To know and understand Him requires Hishelp. Paul writes in Ephesians that we should ask for, “the Spiritof wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”Write a prayer asking for more knowledge of God, then pray itout loud to Him.


27 WONDER-FILLED

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

Our relationship with God is awesomebecause He is always leading us. Thisis not the end of your adoration prayerjourney. It is just the next step. Nowyou can "rinse and repeat." You cansimply go back to the start and askGod, "Who do I need to know You as,right now?"

You may find He leads you to a new name or attribute. You maysense Him telling you to stay put in the name or characteryou've been pursuing Him for these past four weeks. The goodnews is that you likely spent 10 minutes or more for 28 daysadoring God. That is nearly five hours of prayer, simply adoringGod for His nature. By now, you should have a stronger sense ofHis presence. When you read the Word, it should be more alivethan ever. Hopefully, when you sing worship songs, it will feelmore authentic and personal. I would love to hear about your journey and experience with theonline course and your 28-day adoration journey. Please emailme at [email protected] and let me know the honest truth. Iwill use all of it to make the experience better for others. Finally, write a prayer and tell God who He is to you...


28 RINSE AND REPEAT

WHO IS GOD TO YOU...


- 28 DAY -ADORATION PRAYER

DEVOTIONAL

JOEL AND HIS WIFE , TOBY , L IVE IN LOUISVILLE , KYWITH THEIR TWO SONS , ETHAN AND BEN . JOEL ALSO

TRAVELS AND WRITES WORSHIP MUSIC WITH STEPHENMCWHIRTER . LEARN MORE AT SMWORSHIP .COM

JOEL GERDIS


2 8 d a y€¦ · the best part of the day for you to spend time with god is an important factor to...

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