! !
The
Week
1
T
rone
A Study of the Manifest Presence of God in 1 Samuel
Pray, Reflect, Journal
!
Jour%al Week 1 In his book the Circle Maker, Mark Ba9erson tells the inter:estamental stor< of Honi. “It was the first centCr< BC, and a devastating drought threatened to destGoy a generation-‐the generation before Jesus. The last of the Jewish prophets had died off nearly four centCries before. Miracles were such a distant memor< that they seemed like a false memor<. And God was nowhere to be heard. But there was one man, an eccentGic sage who lived outside the walls of JerCsalem, who dared to pray anyOay. His name was Honi. And even if people could no longer hear God, he believed that God could still hear them.” Honi drew a circle around himself with a staff in his hand and with a crowd looking on Honi prayed, “Lord of universe, I swear before Your gGeat name that I will not move Som this circle until you have shown mercy upon Your children.” The crowd continued watching as a few raindrops began falling. Honi continued praying, “Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain that will fill cister%s , pits and caver%s.” The crowd watched as the rain began to fall in a deluge and still Honi prayed, “Not for such rain have I prayed, but for rain of Your favor, blessing and gGaciousness.” The rain began to fall steady and the drought was broken. (Stor< of Honi comes forW Mark Ba9erson’s book the Circle Maker.) Jour%al what God is showing you through this week’s passages and the stories of GyZsy Smith, Hannah, and Honi
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Over the nex: ten weeks you are being asked to draw a circle around yourself and pray. Jour%al what area of your life God is speaking to you needs this circling prayer.
! ! ! ! ! ! !