The 30 Day Praise Challenge by Becky Harling

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A Review of Becky Harling’s Book by Dennis Edwards -- 

I have just began reading a beautiful book called The 30 Day Praise Challenge. When Becky Harling found out she had cancer she called her close friend and mentor asking for prayer and counsel. To her surprise her mentor suggested she start a 30 day praise challenge. She followed the advice and not only did God heal her, but her whole attitude towards life changed. Now she’s a sought after speaker and has written several books on her experience of praise. I suggest you buy her book at Amazon and follow her suggestions. But to capture interest a bit more, I will give you an outline of how it works.

We all know that praise is important and some believe it is the most important spiritual weapon at a Christian’s disposal. During The 30 Day Praise Challenge Becky asks you to spend twenty minutes a day for 30 consecutive days in praise and in prayer to God. Each day of the month has a short devotional reading followed by some inspirational music from You-Tube. Music has always been known to be an avenue for us to enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving. In the Psalms, which were actually songs of worship, we read, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise.”[1] It even says that God inhabits the praises of his people.[2]

In Kings we read where Elisha was asked to get a message from the Lord concerning a military situation. He didn't know what to do, but the Lord could show him. He called for a musician to play. When the musician played, the spirit of the Lord came upon Elisha and he received the heavenly message necessary to win the battle.[3] Even so today, we should use the modern technologies available and listen to beautiful songs of praise to help us get into God's spirit. We could find songs from older groups like the Bill Gaither Band or more modern groups like Hillsong and use them as praise primers helping us in our worship times. Paul and Silas when they were thrown into jail may have sunk down into despair, but they did not stay there. In Acts we read, “They sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”[4]Paul tells us, “Rejoice evermore and in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”[5] Jesus even sang a hymn with his disciples before they departed for that fateful Mount of Olives.[6]

After listening and meditating on the songs for the day, Becky gives us a praise prayer to pray. The follow up questions for our personal journal help us to pray, consolidate our goals and jot down the messages we receive from the Lord. I’m only on day two and I am already sold on The 30 Day Praise Challenge. If you haven’t yet done your own challenge, I challenge you to. It will help you to build some good devotional habits and will renew your relationship with the Lord.

Whether you a passing through a difficult emotional period in your life, or have financial insecurities, or problems at home with your children or mate, or perhaps health problems, The 30 Day Praise Challenge may be just what you need to lift you up, out and over the problem that keeps pulling you down. Take the challenge. You will not be disappointed. God has power and strength, wisdom and love that He wants to transmit to you, but you need to wait on Him, or in other words, spend time with Him to receive it.[7] Take The 30 Day Praise Challenge and renew your relationship with the Creator of the universe and rejoice!

Becky says, “Praise changed me from being fearful, frantic, and insecure; to being a calm person filled with passion and purpose. Praise restores our faith, fills us with joy, calms our fears, and inspires us to love and obey God. If you long for those changes in your life, I invite you to take the praise challenge.” [8]

Here is the link to the song of praise she suggests:The 30 Day Praise Challenge Songs

Footnotes:

[1] Psalm 100:4
[2] Psalm 22:3
[3] 2Kings 3:15,16
[4] Acts 16:25
[5] 1Thessalonians 5:16,18
[6] Matthew 26:30

[7]Isaiah 40:28-31  
[8] Harling, Becky; The 30 Day Praise Challenge, David Cook Publishing Co., Colorado, USA, pg.      18,19.