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.
I don’t want Satan hearing them and using them to confuse me :)
Giving HIM my undivided attention when I pray is hard for me. With my Kiddos, family business, youth group kids, the house and so much more fighting for my attention, I don’t often set aside quiet time for just me and God. I pray while doing laundry and dishes, and sadly set my prayer aside on hold when the phone rings or one of my kids has a “need”. I need God to be the priority.
I’ve just come home from BSF. Read your email and intro to the new book. 2 WORDS jumped out at me – scent & prayer. I have immense problems on staying focused in prayer time. I’m told by others that I have an intense recall of memories associated with scents, smells, perfumes etc. So, an answer has come : I’m to pray while using a scented medium to help me stay focused and alert. I don’t know whether this is what the book is all about but, hey, if this works for me I’m happy for the light bulb moment. Thankyou and blessyou, Susan
Hi Rachel, The book sounds great and I’m really excited to have the chance to win a copy but I’ll make sure to put it on my “to read” list just in case.
I’d say I’m a prayer girl, but the first thing I thought about in what I struggle with is feeling inadequate to pray for myself. I feel strong in praying for others but when it comes to myself often I’m thinking I’m just not praying exactly right. Sometimes I wonder if I’m praying for the wrong thing. You know that saying “be careful what you wish for”? I’d like to feel a little more peaceful when it comes to prayers for myself, and to feel it’s good to do so.
Sounds like an inspiring read, Karen and Rachel!
When it comes to prayer, I struggle with knowing God’s heart. I’m scared to say I sense God is telling me “this” because maybe it is just me wanting it that way. I’ve made the comment many times that I wished the Lord would just hit me over the head with a sign that read, “I want you to do [blank].” I’m dense and have trouble discerning His will through prayer.
I so want to be a woman of prayer and I do pray daily. But I struggle with slowing down and taking the time to enter my “prayer closet”. That is my biggest obstacle: slowing down and taking the time to form that relationship and when I do, I get soooo distracted. I look forward to the book.
I struggle with making uninterrupted time! I am a busy mom and it seems like every minute of my day is prone to interruptions!
Seems like I am always asking God for something: keep my children safe at school and during sports, help me make a friend, keep me away from un-necessary food or even silly things like: please send a cleaning fairy to my house. I desire to remember that prayer is also for thanksgiving/praise, 2-sided conversation and for quiet rest in Him.
My struggle with prayer is that my mind will wander and I lose my train of thought. Sometimes I find that my prayers are so similar each day; I long for more spontaneity and a time of silence where I listen to God.
I don’t know if I’m to “do” something or be serene with how things are. I pray for the wisdom to know the difference.
I often struggle with praying out loud with others and finding the time to do it consistently. When I do manage to do it consistently…I forget all that I am suppose to pray for. I know that God hears what is in my heart but I know He would like to hear it come out of my mouth too!
Be blessed…many blessings all around….
Smiles and Blessings,
Robin :)
My biggest struggle(s) are consistency and perseverance… for the long haul. I do OK in the beginning, but falter after a while. Same problem w/devotional time…….
Staying focused on the prayer and not letting my mind wander to my grocery list or other mundane task, and praying for others on a consistent basis. I can pray when there is a known need, but just to keep them in mind and pray…even when there isn’t a known need.
I had always thought God heard my prayers and answers them. In recent years I have heard much teaching that says prayer doesn’t change anything it only is to get my heart in tune with what God will do. Its been confusing to me. I’m anxious to read you’re book.
My problem is that I’m always questioning if He’s really listening…it seems like I get no answer or the exact opposite of the answer I prayed for…does He really hear me?
I know that prayer is important for my relationship with the Lord. It is a real struggle for me to spend time in prayer. I will write down prayer requests and with good intentions want to pray regularly for them. It is a struggle for me. I recognize the need that I have to spend time in prayer so I am interested in this book. Thanks.
My intentions are good when it comes to praying, but I get very distracted. I pray for someone and then my mind wanders to someone else. I do thank him for all the blessings he has given me. I talk to God all the time. My commute to work takes me 1 1/2 hours one way and I like to spend time just talking to him. It is my quiet time with him in the morning. Keeps me in control when the traffic is crazy.
I struggle with public prayer
My greatest struggle with prayer is my not taking the time out to do so. Even though I truly enjoy my time alone with my Father, I don’t make it the priority that I should. Also, I’m sure God gets tired of hearing the same topic of conversation from my end….over and over again!
I make it a point to pray with my five year old son every night but fall short in my own prayer time!
What I struggle with most regarding prayer is distractibility! I start off strong in prayer, then realize that I am thinking about work or laundry or who knows what! My heart’s desire is to spend time with my Lord Jesus and focus on Him. Suggestions?
In grace and truth, Cheri
I struggle with not being worthy enough for God to even listen to my prayers. I fall short so often! Sometimes it is so hard to ask for anything when God has given me so much already. I also struggle with praying for everyone that I want to pray for. When someone comes to mind that I haven’t seen or talked to for a long time…I pray for them. I feel like God knows what they need and that I should ask Him to be with them.
I would say consistency is my biggest struggle but also public prayer. I know what is on my heart but speaking that in front of others is something I would love to overcome.
I struggle with my mind wandering at times during prayer and also sometimes I seem so repetitive. I feel like God gets tired of hearing all my problems. I want to learn just to sit with him and enjoy his company in prayer..
I was so encouraged to read all of the comments and the obvious love for the Lord and desire to communicate with Him. Even though He is ever with us through His Spirit, there is just something wonderful about coming before the presence of the Father Enough can’t be written about prayer. Volumes have already been written. Few of us have ever “arrived” in our prayer life, bold, confident, without doubting, consistent, persistent, in His will… I really appreciate the title you have chosen for your book – sensational scent – knowing what the sense of smell does to all of us. That’s why candles are so obviously successful. Our prayers, no matter how feeble or confident, are a sweet aroma to the Father. It pleases Him for us to pray and that is reason enough to come to Him We were created for His good pleasure. I love it when my children talk to me – even when I can’t give them all they desire – just to know they love me enough to talk to me!!!