RENEWED is a devotional providing healing for those in ministry who have been hurt in the church. Ministry is a privilege, but it can also be a painful experience. Unrealistic expectations, church conflict, forced resignations, and our own struggles with burnout, loneliness, and insecurity can make church feel more like a place of wounding than a place of healing. How can wounded leaders find … can wounded leaders find the courage to reject bitterness and keep loving the church?
RENEWED is a forty-day devotional for women in ministry, ministry wives, and lay leaders who have been wounded by their congregations. You are not alone. God sees your pain. He knows your hurts. And he is waiting to bind up your broken heart. This forty-day journey into the healing love of Jesus will help you find the courage to stop hiding and start loving the church again.more
Renewed
By leighpowers
Renewed
This is a book meant to be read once a day for 40 days. It slowly goes through getting renewed in your faith. Covers forgiveness, letting go, moving on from something that happened in your life. Has Bible verses to match up with devotional for each day and a prayer for each day.
The author also talks about being a pastor wife. Definitely sounds like it can be hard at times. It was interesting hearing about different things that went on. How she dealt with with hurt feelings.
I received an complementary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
wonder how many in ministry have been hurt by the church? I know that there are many that have been judged, felt shamed and unloved as they struggled in their ministry. This devotional would have been a great tool for me several years ago as my husband and I were deeply hurt while serving in a ministry at church. It was hard to feel rejected by a pastor and to know you were not welcomed back at the church. We had many friends in the church and suddenly they all turned their back on us.
I was so angry at God, that I couldn’t imagine myself ever stepping in another church. The feelings of unworthiness overwhelmed me. My husband was able to pray and forgive those who hurt us. I on the other hand ,held on to my anger and saw my life spinning out of control.The funny thing is, we did nothing wrong. It was someone wanting to be in charge and their jealousy of us took over. I loved the part in the book where the author talks about wanting friends. It is like isolation when the church members start to ignore you. It is true that maybe we need to look for friends outside of our church. I found comfort at the library where I worked at. The people there were supportive but never once judged us for what we were going through.
Rejection is one of the hardest things to get through. When you are in ministry sometimes others don’t feel comfortable asking you to join them in activities away from church. It is a hard place to be for church leaders, but the book reminds us that God is always there for us. The enemy would love to divide a church and if we aren’t careful he will win. I love the prayers the author has at the end of every chapter. It really helps to speak encouraging words over ourselves and begin to heal from the pain.
One of the best chapters I read in the book was about forgiveness. I loved how the author shared how difficult it was to forgive the person who ” spread lies , betrayed us, threatened us, and accused us.” I also understand how it feels when the people you think have your back start questioning you or say nothing at all. ” Sometimes being willing to be willing is the place we must start.” It was so hard for me to let go of the pain and I struggled for a long time. I have found this devotional to be a great tool for me as I realize I still have some work to do to get past what the people in the church did to me. It seems like this book came to me at the right time in my life. I’m more open to looking at the situation with forgiveness and letting go of the past. The book is a 40-day devotional that I will use over and over again.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.