What Does Prayer Smell Like? Giveaway with Rachel Wojarnowski

Congrats to the winner of Holley Gerth’s giveaway.  It is……Rosey. Send your email address to my assistant at [email protected] so we can forward it on to Holley. Yay!

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Do you struggle with prayer?

I don’t mean that you, as a follower of Christ,  think it isn’t important.

I mean things I sometimes ponder like, if God is gonna do what He is gonna do anyway—being that He is all omniscient and all—then why pray in the first place? Or why at times do I pray continually only to continually get no obvious response? Is He busy? Or ignoring me? Or is He just slow? Have I done something wrong so He is refusing to answer?

If you’ve too ever wondered about the mysteries of prayer, you are gonna LOVE the new ebook by my friend Rachel Wojnarowski.

Seriously love it.

I was honored to get a sneak preview of it. (It releases tomorrow) and even more thrilled to be asked to write the forward! Now, before I ask Rachel to tell you about the book, let me tell you about Rachel.

Rachel is originally a small town country girl who converted to a suburban mother of seven by way of life happening.

She and her husband, Matt, enjoy caring for their busy family, whose ages span 9 months to 21 years and includes a special needs daughter.

Rachel leads community ladies’ Bible studies in central Ohio and serves as an event planner and speaker for special needs parenting groups.

She is a member of the Ohio Writers’ Guild and the National MPS Society; and loves to inspire others through her blog by sharing faith, family, and fun.   Wife, mom, reader, writer, speaker and dreamer, you can find Rachel on Twitter and Facebook.

Hear her heart now:

Thank you for having me over, Karen! And thank you for writing the foreword for my ebook, “The Sensational Scent of Prayer,” releasing tomorrow, May 8th!  I am thrilled to share a little about this ebook with you and your readers today.

Sometimes a book begins years before the idea of writing a book ever exists.  In this case, God began to stir my heart to write a Bible study about Hannah, the mother of Samuel, about five years ago.

Many of us know her story; after all, it takes up less than two chapters of the Bible (I Samuel 1&2).  But the miraculous power of Hannah’s prayer resonates with us because of the answer God gave her in the form of a son.  Honestly, the fact that Hannah is the only woman in the Bible to have two recorded prayers had escaped my memory when I first began to study.  And how did I miss that Hannah’s second prayer was ten verses long?

After studying Hannah’s story for almost a year, I had the privilege of teaching a summer Bible study and sharing the lessons God taught me with other women.  I cannot begin to tell you the ways God provided confirmation to me through the women that His timing is impeccable and His plan is perfect.  This study launched me into a more regular writing ministry through blogging in October 2009 and after writing out much of the study, I still felt a hunger to share more on Hannah and prayer.

On January 5, 2009, a portion of what I wrote in my prayer journal reads:

“I believe that God wants the Hannah study to be continued.”

Fast-forward to several weeks ago, more than three years later. I went out for a run and when I returned home, I told my husband that I felt the Holy Spirit impressing me that now is the time to release an ebook about Hannah. So there is the backstory to “The Sensational Scent of Prayer.”

What does prayer smell like?  How is prayer related to the sense of smell?

Without revealing all the secrets of the book, I just want to encourage you to open your heart to prayer like you never have before, allowing the tangible concepts of this earthly world to transmit a heavenly message. A message that conveys just how much God loves to communicate with His children; this is why He loves “the sensational scent of prayer.”

Ok cyber friends. Rachel has generously agreed to giveaway 5 copies to 5 women who comment on this post.

So, tell us this. What do you most struggle with when it comes to prayer?

Any of the aspects I mentioned above? What else?

Don’t be afraid to be honest. We’re a safe gang of gals here. :-)

Winners announced tomorrow.

351 Comments

  1. My struggle with prayer is praying and telling God I truly want to do His will – and then being afraid it will “hurt”. An example to show what I mean, “As a cancer survivor will He again ask me to go through cancer for His purpose.” I do so want to be a positive influence for His kingdom . . .

  2. My prayers are mostly gratitude. In the busyness of life I often forget to take every problem/situation to God. Every thing big or small is something to be shared in prayer and I forget that. I often try to figure things out myself first instead of looking to my Heavenly Father first.

  3. I find time to pray the short prayers but still do not sit and be still and listen….what does He want me to do…where am I to go…who or where am I suppose to serve…Still a work in progress

  4. Thanks for this opportunity to read this sensational looking and sounding book! Many of the things said in your article above really ring true with me! I would definitely agree that when we can really take the time to dig in and pray, it can be so enjoyable to just rest and spend that time with our Lord! One thing that I really struggle with is that I sometimes think my prayers for others sound the same…. I try to pray specifically for issues I know they are having, but to be honest, I get a little bored with my prayers, and I wonder how God doesn’t too! I would love to learn how to make prayer time more exciting and enjoyable and worshipful for me and God!

  5. i am just sitting here reading (and re-reading) through all these beautiful ladies thoughts, comments, struggles, fears, blessings, concerns saying, ‘yes!’ ‘uh-huh!’ ‘oh! i know!’ as well as ‘please, Father, bless this girl of yours!’ ‘thank You, God, for hearing & answering her prayers!’
    so….thank you, rachel, it appears you have struck a chord in the hearts of our sisters-in-Christ! may God do with us now as He pleases. <3

  6. I can’t wait to read the book! I know God can do anything He wants. I know He loves me. I know that His will is the very best for us. I know all of these things in my head and my heart. This is where there is a but or a however, I have so much trouble waiting on His time. I have to really struggle with keeping on bringing my needs and desires to God when I don’t get an answer fairly soon. God is faith ,and I know that because ,He is still teaching me that His timing is perfect and He has been doing that for 3 years and 7 months now on a really important matter that involes my whole family.

  7. I struggle with being consistent and going deep in my prayers. I do the quick ‘Help me, Lord” kind of prayers, but struggle with really turning my life over to Him and listening to His will for my life.

  8. I felt when I was a working mom, I didn’t have the time it took to pray…the “right way.”. I have learned, mostly because I began staying home about 3 1/2 years ago that everyone’s prayer looks different. My prayers are often an open dialog with God through the day. He is my strength, my go-to when I’m having a bad day, the first I call on when my friends need me, my sanity.
    My kids are 6, 5, 3, and 1…so I definitly don’t go a day without prayer. I’m also on our MOPS leadership team, there is always someone I’m praying for. There are a lot of other moms our there that I’m in constant contact with that always need prayer.
    I will also say real quick that before our first baby was born, we felt like that day would never come. I didn’t wait as long as Hannah, but it was a couple of years and then it was a miscarriage. But, looking back, you have to see God’s timing in it all. He knows the plans he has for me.

  9. I sometimes feel like I don’t spend enough time in prayer. But then I’m constantly talking to the Lord while driving. My words aren’t that eloquent, but I know He’s listening. I’m trying to learn to get my spirit in step with His Spirit. I’m still learning to hear His gentle whispers when He answers me.

  10. My struggle is remembering all the things and people I want to pray about, I always add for God to see my heart and know all those I missed!

  11. I know that prayer is important. I usually prayer on my way into work. It has been heavily on my heart to actually put aside “quiet time” every morning to prayer and read the bible, but I just haven’t done it yet. Also, sometimes I find myself deliberatly not praying, justifying it with the “God knows everything, why do I need to pray?” attitude. I’m not sure why I get so onery! Really looking forward to reading this book.

  12. I absolutely love Hannah’s story. It has always been one of my favorite scriptures. I have always looked at it in a different perspective though. What more loving thing could we do as mothers than give them ( our children ) back to God. Whether here on earth like Hannah or in heaven like my husband and I had to do with our twin daughters recently. Many years after Hannah’s message pierced my heart. I am so excited to be able to study Hannah and her story in a different light.

  13. I struggle with asking God for the big things, and it all comes down to lack of faith. Kind of like, I believe God and that He can and does all things, but if I ask Him for something big and He doesn’t answer in how I am expecting, then does He really care about me? And being a grandmother (around the block a time or two), I feel I should have this all figured out by now. Blessings on your book. It is one that Know I will be purchasing.

  14. I struggeled with prayer when i was a new beliver and i struggle with praying when im angry or hurt or worried i just wont pray then, one time in my life i dont think i understood prayer until i went to something called the wow jam and they needed people to pray over people. at first when i was there i was lost i asked the pastor to pray over me and i was then able to pray over others, now i just crave prayer when someones hurting i can actully feel there hurt when someones angry i can actully feel there anger when someone crys i cry too, i feel a tug at my heart when people need prayer litterly feel God grabbing my heart to pray for that person, i love to pray for people now its my passion i love to see God work in them

  15. I struggle with asking. I pray and I know that God knows what is in my heart.. I am not the person who asks over and over so I get confused when I pray. I usually end up with “God, you know what is in my heart.” I also thank God for everything in my life. With so much unknown in my life at this moment, my idea of prayer would be to just crawl into his lap and have him hold me while I close my eyes and rest.

  16. I struggle with time mostly – do I stick with my prayer list or do I just tell God about what I’m thinking? If I do either one, by the time I get done my time is all gone. I set aside 15 minutes at the beginning of each day, but it doesn’t seem to be enough time. I usually pray for at least 20 minutes, but I still haven’t gotten to talk and listen and tell him what all is on my heart.

  17. I struggle with focus, I start talking and then I get tired or the baby starts crying and then I put God on hold and seemingly never come back. It’s only when I grab my journal and truly focus that I get a true deep meaningful prayer in. Every morning I start with prayer before I get out of bed but some mornings those are desperate, God I HAVE to get moving, I have to get to work, the baby needs a diaper change, I have to get my big girl to grab her clothes and boogie out the door to Nana’s house, HELP! I’m so thankful when my husband recognizes the struggle and pins me down to truly take time in His presence and get refocused on what really matters.

  18. This book sounds great! I struggle with both being patient for an answer and also leaving it with God. So often I will pray for Him to take my burdens but I end up “taking” them back by worrying about them again. I struggle with patience when it comes to having prayed for something for years and years without getting the answer I want (eg, a person’s salvation).

  19. Oh I wish I had time to read all the comments. I could so agree with the majority of them. Inconsistency in my prayer time I would say is one of my biggest hinderance. My mind drifts off to other tasks that need my attention, things I need to remind my family, etc. I lose my train of thought and I feel scattered and then I beat myself up about it. I am also so very guilty of limiting God – my problems are too small for Him, He doesn’t have time for me and my sillyness, etc. Also, I am so afraid of not hearing His voice that I think I have become so focused on Him not speaking to me that I have probably missed His tiny whispers. (then more beating myself up). Also, I think this is so crazy but it is how my mind works & would like to know others thoughts on this – I have had a pretty easy, stable life. A wonderful husband, two great kids, steady jobs, family near by, etc. I had a very normal childhood. When I hear of all the troubles others have experienced and the difficulties in their life, I wonder if my faith is not strong enough, does God know I couldn’t handle it, and I start with all these doubts about my faith and even my salvation. I know God loves me and I know if I die today, I have eternal life in Jesus yet these doubts start arising because my life is easy. I have struggles but in reality compared to others they are relatively minor. I should not be doubting but praising the Lord for His goodness. Not sure what is wrong with me that causes this – can anyone relate??

  20. I struggle with being consistent and intentional in my prayers and prayer time. I hesitate to pray for “frivolous” things for myself. The big, “serious” things seem to be easier to pray for, but harder to wait for answers.

  21. Praise God I don’t struggle with the fact that God’s will may be different than what I pray about (it typically is) or with prayers not being answered (they usually are just not in the way I expected or hoped for). In fact coming from a religion where prayers were recited in a language I did not understand to a “god” who did not exist, praying to a God who actually responds, who is concerned with everything I have to say/I feel, and has a purpose and plan for my life was such a breakthrough for me.

    But that’s unfortunately been a hindrance too; you see I wasn’t used to talking personally to God so that has been somewhat of an awkward process for me-to be able to talk to Him as a friend, as my Father. I’ve come a long way but even now I find it easier to pray for/with people and to write my prayers in my journal than I do talking to God one-on-one, just Him and me. He is working on me concerning that though praise God!

    I absolutely love the story of Hannah-having been told I couldn’t have children at an early age and then being blessed with two beautiful children in the last 3 years, I have been able to relate to her. Look forward to reading how you used her incredible story to encourage His people in prayer. Bless you Sister.

  22. I struggle with taking the time to be quiet and still. My mind also always seems to wonder to all the other thing that must be done.

  23. I struggle to understand why, if we are to become as little children, and God says in Jeremiah 33, to ask and He will tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know – why is it so hard sometimes to understand when God is silent on some prayers, especially when I pray that if the answer to a question is no, I ask God to give peace in the matter but peace doesn’t come? He promises to give the peace that passes all understanding, but when?

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