God Is My Refuge: 12 Weeks of
Devotions and Scripture Memory for Troubled Times
Interview with the author, Kathy Howard
1.
How can this devotional book help and encourage
Christian women?
Christian women are not immune to
trials and difficulties. In fact, Jesus clearly warned His followers that we
will have trouble. We live in a fallen world and the effects touch everyone.
However, believers have a safe place to go in the midst of trouble. Our God
invites us to take refuge in Him. He is our “refuge and strength, an
ever-present help in times of trouble.”
Most Christians believe God can help, but many don’t know
where to go in the Bible to find the comfort, peace, and guidance He longs to
give. God Is My Refuge provided the
direction Christian women need to discover, understand, and apply the
“ever-present help” only God can give.
2.
What makes God Is My Refuge different from most
other devotionals?
God Is My Refuge is more of a purposeful quite time guide. The
overall intent for the book is to help women discover the help God offers in
times of difficulty. Each day’s devotion includes the following components:
·
Scripture reading of 5 to 8 verses
·
Brief illustration and commentary on the verses
·
Three questions for personal reflection and application
·
Prayer prompt
·
Memory Minute
Each of the 12 weeks focuses on a specific area of trouble
like financial need, illness, broken relationships, grief, or fear. Each week
highlights a verse that the reader is encouraged to memorize to internalize
God’s truth. The daily “Memory Minute” gives quick, practical steps to
facilitate memorization.
3.
Tell us about how
God used this book in your life while you were writing it.
Not long after I began working on
this devotional our family entered a time of crisis. God used every moment I
spent searching His Word and studying His promises to minister to me in my time
of trouble. I needed what I was preparing for others. He comforted me with His
Words of love. He filled me with the peace that can only come from Him. He
strengthened me with the presence of His Spirit. God has truly been my refuge
and ever-present help.
4.
This devotional
includes a Scripture memory component. Why is this important?
Memorizing God’s Word solidly
entrenches it in your heart and mind. When you internalize His truth like this,
God can use it to minister to you in powerful and personal ways:
·
Provide you with comfort, encouragement, peace, and
strength (Col 3:15-16; Ps 1:1-3)
·
Give you guidance and wisdom (Ps 37:31; Ps 119:24, 98,
105)
·
Foster your spiritual growth (2 Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12;
1 Pet 2:2)
·
Prepare you to share your faith with others (1 Pet
3:15; Acts 18:28)
·
Fill you with joy and pour out His blessings (Ps
119:24, 47, 103; James 1:21-25)
5. Memorizing Scripture overwhelms many
Christians. How does God Is My Refuge help
readers overcome this?
Memorizing Scripture is often
overwhelming because we are looking at the “big chunk.” We see the end – having
a verse or section memorized – and think “there’s no way I can do that!” You’ve
heard the old saying about how to eat an elephant? The answer is “one bite at a
time!” The same is true with memorizing Scripture. This devotional gives
readers small, daily, doable steps to help them succeed. One bite at a time,
until the verse is memorized! We also review all the verses throughout the
course of the devotional to help them stick.
6.
What is main
takeaway of God Is My Refuge?
Christians will have trouble in
this world, but God is there is help us in the midst of it. He will not leave
us to stumble around on our own. He has the desire and power to help us. We
just have to turn to Him. This devotional helps us do just that!
For more information about God Is My Refuge, and to download a free day’s devotional, visit Kathy’s website:
To purchase a copy of God
Is My Refuge on Amazon:
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