A House of Prayer: Daily Devotional
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About this ebook
-Melissa Wuske, Clarion Review
Although the sheer size of this 702-page book may seem intimidating to some readers, English organizes the content into bite-sized sections, making it highly digestible. The writing is plain but honest and genuine, and readers interested in embracing a routine of daily prayer will likely find this book a useful tool. A heartfelt, thoughtful book of prayers, likely to inspire devoted Christian readers.
-Kirkus Media LLC
Christians believe that their faith is tested through trials, and author Avril English knows something about that, having suffered a lifelong disabling injury and breast cancer. In this Christian, non-denominational, 365-day devotional, it is apparent that her born-again faith is strong.
-BlueInk Reviews
Avril English
For twenty-four years I have had a daily relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, absorbing the scriptures and gaining an ever deeper understanding of God’s love. Now it is time for me to share those prayers and the lessons I have learnt with others and to bring the blessings of God’s love and scriptures into their lives. As it states in James, I have experienced many trials and tribulations through reading the word of God, from being registered disabled to undergoing Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer which had a huge impact on my life and in the lives of those who love me. Throughout this time I relied heavily upon God to see me through and now I intend to encourage others to be more intimate with God and to use him as their source of strength and comfort. Avril lives in Berkshire, England with her husband Brian. They both enjoy spending time together, with their family, friends and with their daughter Katie and her husband Mike.
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A House of Prayer - Avril English
AuthorHouse™ UK
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403 USA
www.authorhouse.co.uk
Phone: 0800.197.4150
© 2012 by Avril English. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
Published by AuthorHouse 04/18/2016
ISBN: 978-1-4772-3452-5 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4772-3453-2 (e)
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
January 1 Complete Surrender
January 2 Family
January 3 Help Me To Live a Godly Life
January 4 Wear God’s Armour
January 5 Confidence in You
January 6 Moving on Towards Maturity
January 7 Confidence in Distress
January 8 Determined to Depend upon God
January 9 Teach Me To Pray
January 10 Stay in Agreement with God
January 11 Prove My Faith
January 12 Spiritual Ears and Eyes
January 13 Teach Me How To Listen
January 14 Set Me in a Larger Place
January 15 Give Me Grace Daily
January 16 You Rescued Me from Darkness
January 17 Breaking Down Strongholds
January 18 Be Content
January 19 I Am What I Am
January 20 A Heavenly Position
January 21 I’m At My New Address
January 22 God’s Presence
January 23 God’s Mercy
January 24 Change Me Lord
January 25 Claiming Victory
January 26 Breathe Upon Me Holy Spirit
January 27 You Are Clearly in My Sight
January 28 I Will Listen For Your Instructions
January 29 Spend Time with God
January 30 Obey by Faith
January 31 A Specific Role
February 1 Live in Christ
February 2 Mission for God
February 3 God Will Fight for Us
February 4 The Locusts
February 5 Stop Struggling
February 6 Surrender to God
February 7 Temptation
February 8 Grow Deep in Christ
February 9 The Enemy’s Tactics
February 10 A Godly Influence
February 11 God Reassure Me
February 12 Do Not Run from God’s Call
February 13 God Know His Plans for Me
February 14 You Will Be with My Mouth
February 15 Clear Insight
February 16 God’s Vision
February 17 Godly Self-Acceptance
February 18 Limitations
February 19 Making an Impact
February 20 Made Holy Through God’s Grace
February 21 Trials
February 22 I Need You, Holy Spirit
February 23 Your Characteristics
February 24 The Power of the Spirit
February 25 He Understands Everything
February 26 My Great Companion
February 27 I Commit My Life to God
February 28 Forgetting the Past
February 29 Help Me To Be Strong
March 1 Help the Unbelievers
March 2 God Has Anointed Me
March 3 The Lord Protects Me
March 4 I Am in Christ
March 5 Jesus Prays for Us
March 6 The Power of the Holy Spirit
March 7 Revival to God
March 8 You Carry All My Burdens
March 9 Spiritual Leprosy
March 10 Fill My Family
March 11 Conviction
March 12 My Mind Is on Christ
March 13 Life in its Fullness
March 14 Guard Your Lips
March 15 Give Up Reasoning
March 16 Remove All the Hindrances
March 17 Birth Your Vision
March 18 Established in Faith
March 19 God’s Heart
March 20 Let Me Die for the Gospel
March 21 Take My Weaknesses
March 22 Be Self-Controlled
March 23 Do Not Be Judgemental
March 24 Stretch My Faith
March 25 I Want To Be in Your Timing
March 26 I Wear Your Yoke
March 27 Jesus Matters Most
March 28 The Lord Keeps Me
March 29 Listen to God
March 30 God Gives Me Power
March 31 I Need Your Favour
April 1 Critical Attitude
April 2 God Will Come and Be Near to You
April 3 Steadfast upon Christ
April 4 Jesus Prayed
April 5 Revealed the Mystery
April 6 Lord, I Will Not Compromise
April 7 God Blesses the Poor
April 8 Weapons of Warfare
April 9 Help Me Grow
April 10 Get Wisdom and Understanding
April 11 Trusting God for the Answer
April 12 Stop These Cravings
April 13 God’s Ways Are Right
April 14 God Will Remove the Stone
April 15 Unforgiving Spirit
April 16 I Cannot Control Anything
April 17 God Will Never Change
April 18 Your Will
April 19 Recovery to My Soul
April 20 The Spirit’s Power
April 21 He Protects Me
April 22 You Will Speak Your Word
April 23 Habitual Discontentment
April 24 You Are on My Side
April 25 Surrender to Your Spouse
April 26 God’s Secret Plan
April 27 I Cannot Predict Tomorrow
April 28 Fountain of Life
April 29 Meeting with God
April 30 Holy Spirit Lives in Me
May 1 Let Go of the Pain
May 2 The Slave Bonds
May 3 Secured in Your Presence
May 4 Plant the Seeds
May 5 Mend my Heart
May 6 The Robe of Christ
May 7 I Need Your Help
May 8 We Need the Fire
May 9 Transform my Mind
May 10 Divine Favour
May 11 Reconstruct Me
May 12 The Unavoidable Evil
May 13 Wait for the Lord
May 14 Praying for All People
May 15 Demolishing Strongholds
May 16 Discouragement
May 17 God’s Nearness
May 18 My Source of Strength
May 19 Utterly Faithful
May 20 Plead the Blood of Christ
May 21 Godly Friends
May 22 Don’t Let Me Go Anywhere
May 23 Turn the Hurt Over to God
May 24 Lord Save Us
May 25 Overcoming My Imagination
May 26 My Destiny
May 27 I Belong to Christ
May 28 Having God’s Wisdom
May 29 God’s Assurance
May 30 God’s Power
May 31 Don’t Get Involved in Arguments
June 1 Be Cheerful
June 2 God Lives in My Body
June 3 He Will Be with Me
June 4 I Am Secure in You
June 5 Do Not Leave God Out
June 6 Confidence in God
June 7 Be Separated from Them
June 8 Chosen People
June 9 The Deep Truths
June 10 Rest in the Almighty
June 11 Present Your Case Before God
June 12 Who Is Going To Harm You
June 13 You Are Mine
June 14 Do Not Get Drunk on Wine
June 15 Offer God a Sacrifice
June 16 Stop Quarrelling
June 17 My Deliverance
June 18 My Joy Is Complete
June 19 The Breath of the Almighty
June 20 Control My Life
June 21 He Will Work Out His Plans
June 22 Grateful and Joyful
June 23 Do Not Fall into Sin
June 24 Still Strong Today
June 25 God’ Strategy
June 26 Fight Mine Enemies
June 27 Teach Me
June 28 God Is Not Unfair
June 29 Be Honest and Trust Him
June 30 God Fights for Me
July 1 You Call Me by Name
July 2 You Are My Strength
July 3 New Life in Christ
July 4 I Will Not People Please
July 5 Spiritual Birth
July 6 Walk In Wisdom
July 7 Don’t Slip Back
July 8 The Foundation of Christ
July 9 Taking Care of Myself
July 10 Begin Again
July 11 Control My Mind
July 12 The Best Pathway
July 13 Blessing Through Scriptures
July 14 Serving God
July 15 Worship the Lord
July 16 A Holy People
July 17 Praise Be to God
July 18 You Will Answer Me
July 19 You Are the Gate
July 20 He Will Convict the World
July 21 Examine My Heart
July 22 My Friend Is Jesus
July 23 You Do Not Need Weapons
July 24 Do Not Be Angry
July 25 A Little at a Time
July 26 I Have Your Gift
July 27 Special Favour
July 28 He Will Pardon Me
July 29 Your Eyes Are upon Me
July 30 God’s Peace
July 31 Walking in Righteousness
August 1 Be Confident
August 2 Have the Mind of Christ
August 3 Be Clear
August 4 Believe in God’s Love
August 5 Develop My Roots
August 6 His Divine Power
August 7 The Storm Will Pass
August 8 Sing Praises to God
August 9 Give Me Victory
August 10 Let My Mind Be Focused upon You
August 11 We Constantly Pray
August 12 Extend My Land
August 13 Lord Watch over Me
August 14 I Will Not Get Tired
August 15 Make Music to the Lord
August 16 Worthy of the Gospel
August 17 Do Not Worry about Your Life
August 18 Remember Your Promise
August 19 Your Ways Are Perfect
August 20 Pass This On
August 21 My Heart Rejoices
August 22 Be Reminded
August 23 I Speak the Truth
August 24 My Greatest Friend
August 25 Fight the Battles
August 26 Godly Wisdom
August 27 Nothing Will You Withhold
August 28 Make My Steps Firm
August 29 Great Boldness
August 30 Let Me Come
August 31 Trust in God
September 1 Family and Friends
September 2 Life of Faith
September 3 Crucified with Christ
September 4 Shout In Triumph
September 5 Come Into Your House
September 6 You Do Marvellous Things
September 7 You bring Me into the Land
September 8 You Are My Lord
September 9 God Will Provide
September 10 Help Your Brother
September 11 I Lift Up My Soul
September 12 You Do Not Change
September 13 Don’t Ever Stay Away
September 14 He Has Seen My Misery
September 15 You Are My Hiding Place
September 16 Bend Down and Hear Me
September 17 Send Your Holy Spirit
September 18 You Have Called My Name
September 19 Help Me in My Mistakes
September 20 Shut the Door and Pray
September 21 Relationship with God
September 22 Removed My Transgressions
September 23 I Delight in You
September 24 You Are the Vine
September 25 I Shall Pray
September 26 I Want to Learn Your Laws
September 27 Let Me Listen
September 28 The Power of the Spirit
September 29 The True Head
September 30 Inspired by God
October 1 The Lord Holds Me
October 2 New Ideas
October 3 Cry Out to the Lord
October 4 Come Quickly
October 5 Appeal to God
October 6 God Will Not Forget
October 7 Be Joyful
October 8 Be Not Afraid
October 9 I No Longer Live
October 10 Restore Me
October 11 Observe Your Statutes
October 12 Keep My Thoughts
October 13 Take the Veil Away
October 14 The Words of the Wise
October 15 Do Not Argue
October 16 Mourned Long Enough
October 17 You Chose Me
October 18 My Captivity Has Ended
October 19 I Am in the Race
October 20 Spiritual Birth
October 21 Keep Me in the Storm
October 22 We Must Do the Work
October 23 Join Me in My Struggles
October 24 Resist the Devil
October 25 Do Not Stifle God
October 26 Centred upon Christ
October 27 Strong Faith
October 28 Do Not Oppose God
October 29 Fill Our Hearts Full of Faith
October 30 Jesus I Need to Know You Better
October 31 The World Is Crucified to Me
November 1 The Keys of the Kingdom
November 2 My Old Nature
November 3 Do Not Alter God’s Word
November 4 Don’t Worry About Anything
November 5 You Are My Strength
November 6 Cloud of Witnesses
November 7 My Thoughts Are on God
November 8 Do Not Be in a Hurry
November 9 You Will Guide Me
November 10 Revealed to Me by His Spirit
November 11 Christ Suffered for Me
November 12 I Will Tell the World
November 13 Follow My Example
November 14 Never Give Up
November 15 He Loved Us First
November 16 We Commit to God
November 17 Don’t Look Back
November 18 Your Will Be Done
November 19 I Have an Inheritance
November 20 We Are Living Stones
November 21 In Obedience
November 22 You Called Me To Trust You
November 23 Discovering God’s Will
November 24 Garments of Splendour
November 25 My Ears Are for God
November 26 We Are Your Masterpiece
November 27 Committed to Him
November 28 Rebellious Ways
November 29 How to Trust
November 30 Unfailing Love
December 1 It Will Be Done
December 2 God’s Rest
December 3 All Things Work Together
December 4 God Will Establish Me
December 5 Grafted Into Christ
December 6 You Have Appointed Me
December 7 The Certainty of God’s Promise
December 8 My Soul Waits for God
December 9 Be Not Intimidated
December 10 We Have Heard About Your Faith
December 11 Double-Edged Sword
December 12 Grace to Meet My Needs
December 13 Your Word Sustains Me
December 14 Wear the Robe of Christ
December 15 Jesus Prays for Me
December 16 What Is Faith?
December 17 He Will Not Forget
December 18 I Have Your Power
December 19 Press on in Faith
December 20 Faith Brings Joy
December 21 I Am His
December 22 Found Your Favour
December 23 All Has Been Heard
December 24 Commissioned
December 25 Made Known the Mystery
December 26 Called an Outcast
December 27 Discerning His Voice
December 28 Repeatedly Persecuted
December 29 Facing My Enemies
December 30 Give Yourself into Service
December 31 You Are My Shield
About the Author
About the Book Let Me Listen
Preface
It was the morning of 23rd March 1989. The Lord woke me early in the morning, and it was five o’clock when I heard the Lord say to me, Ask your husband to buy you an electric typewriter for your birthday.
I replied, Why Lord?
And He said, Because you are going to write a book.
I laughed at God’s humour. My husband was getting ready for work when I came out with these words, I know what you could buy me for my birthday—an electric typewriter.
He inquired, Why?
I answered him, Because I am going to write a book.
My husband replied, Well, I had thought of buying a word processor.
I replied, Well, that’s even better.
But to my great surprise, I did not get the reaction from him that I had anticipated. I thought that he was going to ridicule me because he knew my education was limited. All day long I could not stop giggling, because I was reflecting upon the vision of my husband getting ready for work and my words to him, which were totally out of character for me.
My husband did buy me a word processor. I knew then that I had to step out in faith and do what God had called me to do. In faith, I began writing the book. I did not have any knowledge of how I was going to do this. I was totally dependent on God. I knew my English and grammar were not very good, but this did not deter me. I began writing an earlier draft of this book, A House of Prayer, which was originally called Life Begins at Forty. I kept praying and asking the Holy Spirit to fill me with His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and to fill my mind with His thoughts to enable me to put the book together. I did not want to be out of God’s will. I wanted to obey Him.
I knuckled down and began writing Life Begins at Forty. I finished the initial draft some months later and sent the book off to the publisher God led me to. They sent it back to me and said they were not going to publish. Although at the time I was greatly disappointed, at least I had done what God had called me to do and had walked in obedience to His will.
I put the book aside and prayed, Lord, I believed You when you told me to write a book. Now, I shall not touch it again until I hear a clear word from you.
I put the book behind me and got on with my life.
Later, God once again caused my heart to stir. A friend from church asked me if I was going to write a book. Once again, I knew that it was God calling me not to forget what He had asked me to do. I had confirmation through a friend who said, You do realize that was a prophetic word from God.
I began to redraft Life Begins at Forty. Once I had completed the redraft, I asked my friend if she would be willing to read it and to give me her opinion of it, as she herself was an established author. I waited patiently for two years for her response. I did not want to put any pressure upon my friend and knew that when she had read the book, she would let me know and provide me with much needed comments. She had a busy life, and I did not want to give her any additional pressures by nagging her to obtain a response. I prayerfully left all in the hands of God.
I received sad news about my friend; the cancer she had previously defeated—she thought she had a successful remission—had returned. Whilst praying for her healing and restoration, news came that my precious friend had died and was now with the Lord. This really upset me.
Life Begins at Forty came to a standstill. I had to let it go. In the meantime, God was stirring me up yet again.
People kept saying to me, You know, Avril, you should write a book on prayers, as that could help a lot of people.
Praying about this, I felt God was leading me to write this book.
One day, my husband said to me he was thinking of buying me a laptop computer. I said to him, Why do I need a laptop? We have a computer upstairs.
In the meantime, God began working in me. He reminded me that He was going to provide me with an electric typewriter and that if I had a laptop computer, then I could use it only for God’s glory. My husband bought me a new laptop computer and installed the software, and I was ready to go.
I received constant demands from my family and friends to write a book about how to pray. I took their advice and through prayer felt God was asking me to write a book containing daily devotional prayers for the complete calendar year, I called the book Daily Prayer—Devotional.
I completed the draft and sent it to a number of publishing houses in the United Kingdom and America. I had a reply from one of the publishers in America who wanted to publish the book and sent me a draft contract. I constantly sought the Lord’s advice and asked for His wisdom by praying, Lord, do not let me sign or do anything unless it is by Your Sovereign will.
I did not want it to go to the wrong place, nor did I want to do things in my own strength. This was God’s book, not mine. All I wanted was to magnify and glorify God and help God’s people. I was about to sign the American contract when I received a call from a publishing house in the United Kingdom.
This UK publisher said to me, Avril, you seem like such a nice lady that I probably should not say this to you, but have you read the reviews of the American publishing house that issued you a contract on the Internet? If I were you, I would take a look.
I took the advice and investigated the American publisher on the Internet. I could see the comments from other authors about this American publisher advised not to go with them. I was so grateful to God for alerting me, and publishing the book with them was not an option now. I praised and thanked God for His love and faithfulness to me, protecting me from making the wrong decision.
Another American publisher gave me a good review but required a large publishing processing fee. At that time, I decided to put the book on hold until God advised me to publish at His appointed time. The experience gained from this was the encouragement I received from the publishers who had been interested in the Daily Prayer’s—Devotional. My faith, love, and trust were in God completely. He would honour what He had said and promised me it would happen.
During the next few years, I did not pursue this book because of personal circumstances. I believe God was testing my faith in Him and demonstrating that only true believers of His word would He take under His wing and truly guide them on the righteousness path and look after them.
During this period, I felt God was leading my family to move from our accommodation to a new location. I had read Scripture where God was telling me to look and that I had to leave the land I was in and go to the land He would lead me to. My husband was of the same mind. We were all going to America on holiday when I suddenly became ill. I went to see my doctor who advised me not to go as I would not get any insurance as this illness was relating to the sickness I had experienced earlier in another country. So, my husband and I decided that my daughter, her friend, and my husband would still go and I would remain at home. At that time, I was devastated at this decision.
Well, to cut a long story short, my husband said to me before he left for vacation, I think we should put the house on the market and move.
So, my husband arranged for an evaluation of our home by local estate agents before leaving to go on holiday. We had three valuations from the estate agents and chose the one we felt was right for us. My family left that Saturday, and by the Tuesday of the following week, we received an offer on our home and I accepted it.
I e-mailed my husband and told him what had happened. He was shocked. He did not expect that the house would sell so quickly. In the meantime, I had to look for somewhere for us to live. My stepson and his wife helped me to look for houses in Basingstoke, Hants. We found a property, which was being built, so I sent the details of this home to my husband in America for him to review.
We e-mailed to-and-fro, and we came to a decision that we should put a holding fee on this new home. We concluded that we could at least hold this home until he returned from holiday. If he did not like the home, then all we would lose was our holding fee. It began to get exciting. We had never owned a brand-new house before, but still I had to accept whatever decision my husband made would then determine whether we would go ahead on this new home or not. He was the head of our household, and I would be obedient to him. I believe that this is one of the reasons God did not want me to go to America, so we could sell our current residence and find a new home for our family.
When my husband returned home from holiday, we looked at the new home, and we decided to buy it. The plot of the new home was Plot 98; we did not know at that time what the address was going to be. When we moved into the house, my husband called the house ‘Pastures New
, and the address was Priest Down
. I felt that this was clarification from God that this was the house He wanted for my family.
The years went by in our new home, and God began to deliver me from all the influences I had previously encountered. He was using the new home to do this by giving us a fresh start. Things began to surface, and His light began to shine in the darkness. He was setting me free from my past and giving me a new life in Him.
When the deliverance was done, God spoke to me through His Word in
Genesis 12:1: The Lord said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you,
and Hebrews 11:8-9: "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise."
Through these two Scriptures came the confirmation I needed to be obedient to God and do what He was telling me—to move again.
My husband and I both had strong desires to move again. My husband’s son and his family had recently moved to Plymouth, so there was nothing keeping us in Basingstoke any longer. We had provided them a home whilst they were waiting to move into the house they had bought in Plymouth. So, maybe the whole purpose of us moving to Basingstoke was to help them out when they needed it. I had no idea where we would end up, but trusted in God for the outcome.
On the 18th November 1996, I had a accident where I was getting into my car and my leg gave way and I began to fall. The Lord had already told me that morning the enemy would trip me up but He would be there to catch me. As I was falling I remembered what the Lord had said to me, I shouted out in the name of Jesus Christ, Satan I come against you.
As I landed on the ground. I could not move my leg it was in a awkward position. I could not get up so I shouted to my neighbour to phone for an ambulance and also to inform Brian. The paramedics arrived and they administered pain relief then took me to hospital. The diagnoses was I had a serious knee injury where I had damaged the Posterior Cruciate Ligament and I had torn the Cartilage. I had two operations to try to put the injuries right but now they had registered me disabled and I was left with a serious leg injury. This was something I was going to have to live with but one thing I was certain of, I was determined to get off the crutches and nothing would stop me serving the Lord.
My health began to improve and I could manage to walk without my crutches and things seemed to be better all-round. My future seemed brighter. I was not materialistic, and just because it was a nice home, I did not want this house to hold us. My first concern was being obedient to Jesus Christ. God was so good. My husband and I agreed to sell the home in Basingstoke with the view that God would determine our next location.
God moves in mysterious ways. We sold our home in Basingstoke just before the house market crashed, and God led us back to a smaller home in the village of Burghfield Common where we resided before moving to Basingstoke.
We managed to get everything packed and ready for the removal men to come in December 2007. What we did not expect was to learn two days before the contracts were to be exchanged that the people we were buying from could not vacate what was to be our new home. The house they wanted to buy was in probate. We had no choice but to pull out of the deal. We did not want to lose the buyers of our home in Basingstoke as the chain would fall through, so we decided to sell our home, and God found us temporary rented accommodation. We lived there for six months. Whilst living here, I went to have a routine mammogram—thankfully it was clear. Eventually, with God’s direction we found a home to purchase, and this time the sale did go through and we moved and settled in Burghfield Common.
We had enrolled at a new GP practice, and after we completed our move, my new doctor called and asked me to take a mammogram once again. Initially, I was not going to go as I had a mammogram in 2008, and I felt that I did not need another one. My husband thought I should go, as it would not do any harm. So, I went to the Mobile Mammogram Unit in Mortimer. I never thought anymore about it until a letter came from the hospital in Reading asking me to go in for a consultation on my mammogram results. My spirit was alerted. When the letter came, I just knew in my heart this was not going to be good news.
I prayed to God and asked Him outright, Lord, I am asking you for a clear ‘yes’ or a clear ‘no’ if I have cancer?
His reply to me was yes
. So, I said, Okay, Lord, I cannot tell you what to do. All I ask from You is that You will be with me in this and give me Your grace, strength, and courage to carry me through.
I felt God was preparing me so I could handle it before my family knew about it.
The day came for me to attend my appointment. My husband came with me, and we waited to see the doctor. We were called in, and the doctor asked us both to sit down. Then, he began discussing the results of the mammogram. The doctor told me straight away that it was cancer, but he still wanted to do a biopsy, which he did immediately.
My husband could not get his head round the news confirming the cancer, and he went into denial. The breast-cancer nurse told him he had to listen to what I wanted and let me handle things the way I needed to. Although God told me that I did have cancer, I was still digesting this bad news. The breast-clinic nurse arranged an appointment to see a cancer surgeon as soon as possible. When I saw the surgeon, he talked me through the procedure with my husband and set a date for surgery. The surgeon said they would remove a number of lymph nodes from under my arm and hoped they were clear. After the operation, I would have to go for a consultation with my surgeon after six weeks.
I can honestly say I was so pleased God had prepared me for this, because it helped me to cope with my family as I leaned upon God. God supported me right all the way through my procedure, and in addition, I had to be strong for my husband and daughter. My daughter was completing her final year of her master’s degree at university when I told her of the bad news. I told her not to worry, to get on with what she needed to do, and that I would be okay. Of course, this did not help her, and she lost concentration. I felt bad that this had to happen during a crucial time in her studies. When I had the operation, she had arranged to be at home and worked from home until she knew I was alright.
When I went in to see the breast surgeon, he told me that the cancer was aggressive, and we could only hope that it would not spread into the other breast. He explained the treatment I was going to have to go through.
Thankfully, I am still in remission two years later. I believe God has healed me.
God had given me so much of His mercy and grace, which carried me through the whole ordeal. It has taken me a long time to get back on my feet, because alongside the cancer I was also dealing with a thyroid problem and I felt absolutely exhausted. It was a good job we moved because I would not have known of my condition. It was God who decided we move from Basingstoke and set circumstances in such a way to save my life. God has really been with me all the way through the testing, diagnosis, surgery, recovery, and treatment. I am God’s child, and my life is in his hands. I trust in Him whatever the outcome, and I accept God’s will.
It was not until October 2011 when my sister Annette in Switzerland said to me, Avril, you need to get that book of yours published.
My first reaction was I did not want to do it, but yet again, God was sending me subtle messages to finish what I started. God was using all kinds of people this time to get His message out. My brother in America was encouraging me to complete the book by helping in any capacity to complete this book. God has put all the right people around me enabling me to draw on their expertise and finally complete this book. In the midst of writing this book, God has spoken to me and asked me to change the title of the book into A House of Prayer—Daily Devotional, so I have done this in obedience to His will.
Acknowledgements
I acknowledge the faithfulness of my God and King, the Lord Jesus Christ. He has been faithful and has fulfilled His promises to me. He is my top priority, enabling me to write this book for Him through the Holy Spirit of God.
I thank Elaine Peplow for obeying God. If she had not been obedient to God and spoken the Gospel of Christ to me, I may have missed the greatest opportunity life had to offer me, accepting the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart and life.
I thank my husband Brian for being so generous and helpful throughout these past years in compiling this book. He bought me the tools necessary to accomplish the writing of this book. He helps me in my walk with God as well as embracing my Christian friends. He has also donated his personal time and our old computer system, setting the system up and training my Christian friend.
I thank my brother Stewart Marshman in America for assisting me in the editing of this book. During this time, he has helped me to develop my computer skills in areas which I lacked experience. He has challenged and encouraged me that the book I was developing would help Christians in all walks of life to understand and show them how to pray.
A special thank you to my daughter Katie Francis for helping me put the format of this book together.
I would like to say a big thank you to all my family and friends who have the faith to believe I could achieve this task in writing this book. Thank you for all the prayers you petitioned to God on my behalf; this has encouraged and helped me to be obedient to God, trusting Him to fulfil the promises He had made with me twenty-three years ago.
In conclusion, I want to thank my friend Janice Donnachie for getting the Introduction of this book into the right perspective.
I have been granted permission from the International Client Manager from Tyndale House Publishers to use Scriptures from their NIV Life Application Bible.
Bibliography
Life Application Bible
Bible Copyright © 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.
Introduction
It was May 1988 when my life changed radically. I was waiting to go into Basingstoke Hospital to have an hysterectomy. I prepared everything beforehand so my daughter would be taken care of by my husband whilst I was in hospital and during my convalescing. We had no family living nearby so my husband applied for special leave from his job.
My brother found a partner who introduced me to tarot card reading. I had no knowledge of