Like many of us, I often wonder why I do what I do. It often seems that in this great big world full of complex problems, what I have to contribute as a writer and teacher is just a drop in a tremendously large bucket. Recently, I began asking myself questions like, “why are your workbooks important?” or “what difference are your workbooks making in a troubled world?” The enemy of our souls likes it when we question God’s plan for our lives. But- introspection can be good because we can arrive at some “WOW” moments when we dig deep and ask difficult questions. That’s exactly what my workbooks enable my readers to do!

I recently watched Adam Leipzig on TED Talks, and his discussion was, “How to know your life purpose in 5 minutes“. So, in five minutes I put together a short synopsis of my life purpose: My name is Mary Clewley and I am a writer and teacher. I help my readers grow deeper in faith through gentle encouragement and God confidence. Through my work–they discover hope- realized.

So, to answer my own questioning heart, my workbooks  help my readers grow in faith through encouragement and God confidence. Why are my workbooks important to your prayer life? The Aramaic word for prayer is “to set a trap”. When we journal our prayers in our workbooks, we are taking them captive. Journaling our prayers helps us to remember them and to set them in stone. Journaling throughout the workbooks reminds us of the covenants we have made with God and allows us new insight within the pages, as we pray and write.

We set goals in the workbooks, in writing so we don’t forget them, but act on them or begin to work toward them. We ask things of God in our workbooks through written requests so we can look back at answered prayers. When we have put things in writing it creates an order. Each day, for 101 days, we can pray around the words which we have written.

We have worked through the 101 Prayers and Affirmations for Spiritual Wellness workbook in a Facebook group with around 4,000 women and a weekly readership of 12,000-15,000, where I post regularly. Communities like this help us to work through our spiritual challenges. I sincerely never imagined while I was standing in front of a church of 800 people–that I would have the opportunity to give my message of hope to so many people each week. It is a deeply humbling experience.

Each workbook has a different theme to cultivate more deeply, stir up and toss around for 101 days. If  you feel that  your life needs a GRATITUDE wakeup call, work through Gratitude: 101 Prayers and Praises. If you see the glass as half empty rather than half full, perhaps you need to change your thought process into a more victorious way of thinking and believing. You could utilize the Victorious Living: 101 Prayers and Praises workbook!

Here’s the thing: I write about what I need in my life and pray that some of you will be able to use my own personal experience with each of these themes to get to know God on a more intimate level. I’m going to tell you straight up that the commitment to doing a workbook that asks thought provoking and spiritual questions, for 101 days is embarking on a great journey!

That’s why I will be hosting “members only” pages this September for those of you who have begun your own journey by purchasing a workbook. The “members only” pages will have additional content to help my readers go through the 101 day process for each workbook they have purchased. If you are discontented with the path you are on and ready to be renewed and begin a new, more balanced path toward loving your life and creating a beautiful life, then the workbook, A Beautiful Life, 101 Prayers and Affirmations would suit you.

When I began writing my workbook series, my desire was that my readers would have a book that was much like a journal. I wanted you to have something that you could carry around, write in, paste images, draw or doodle in while gaining wisdom and understanding on a deeper level with each study.

Part of my personal journey has been through a long season of illness, and just as I mentioned earlier, I write through my personal experience. If you are facing a season of illness or brokenness, then my Faith, Hope and Healing: 101 Prayers and Affirmations workbook would be a good fit.

I enjoy working through each of my workbooks and have also been known work to print images from my phone and paste them in my workbook, write scripture passages that help me through a particular lesson, write my prayers, etc. My pages are all marked up, and my covers are tattered, but I LOVE the journey that each workbook takes me on and the feeling of satisfaction when I have completed something that brings me closer to God.

My experience has taught me that when we work toward a more intimate relationship with God, we will see answered prayers. We truly are more than conquerors. If you are looking for a new path, perhaps a path of deeper intimacy with the Lord–or perhaps slaying the dragon of negativity and lack in your life–choose 2 or 3 workbooks to complete in a year. Join the other readers this fall in one or more of the “members only” groups, right here! When you order from my website, I will sign each workbook and send a few extra goodies–my gift to you–as you begin something new!

I love my readers!

Will you begin something new by ordering one of my workbooks and connecting with me and with others on a spiritual journey–and forge a new trail with us this fall? I want to mentor you, build your God confidence and help you grow your faith by connecting closer to God through written challenges on the pages of each workbook and by getting to know you through a community of travelers on a great faith journey.

Cultivating an Inspired Life,

Mary