Lord, I Want To Be Whole: The Power Of Prayer And Scripture In Emotional Healing

From Publishers Weekly This memoir-cum-self-help guide by bestselling author Omartian (The Power of a Praying Wife and The Power of a Praying Parent) opens with an arresting scene: young Stormie's mother locks her in a small closet, telling her she'll "never amount to anything." Omartian reveals that after her troubled childhood, she experimented with drugs and Eastern philosophy and entered a disastrous marriage. Then she discovered God and began a journey toward emotional health. This book aims to tell readers how they too can find healing and wholeness in seven easy steps: release the past, obey God, obtain deliverance from whatever separates them from God, find restoration and forgiveness, receive the gifts God wants to give them, "avoid or get free of... negative traps," and "stand strong." Omartian encourages depressed Christians to seek counseling and urges patients to choose their counselors carefully. She cautions against blaming God for personal unhappiness. Interspersed are vignettes from Omartian's life, relevant Scripture verses and clear-cut, if overly simplistic, checklists to help readers know if they "need deliverance." (If they've hit a spouse, had premarital sex or dabbled in the occult, they do.) Little is original here except for Omartian's own story; more memorable approaches to healing can be found, for example, in books by Rita Bennett (You Can Be... Emotionally Free) and Leanne Payne (The Broken Image). (Jan.) Forecast: Omartian's self-revelatory books have been steady fixtures on evangelical bestseller lists as well as PW's monthly religion list. While the crowded nature of the recovery book market makes it unlikely that this title will achieve the same following, it will still be welcomed by her fans. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. Stormie Omartian is an award-winning bestselling author and speaker whose award winning POWER OF PRAYING series have sold more than 34 million books worldwide, which includes such books as, THE POWER OF PRAYING WIFE, THE POWER OF A PRAYING HUSBAND, THE POWER OF A PRAYING WOMAN, THE POWER OF A PRAYING PARENT, THE POWER OF PRAYING FOR YOUR ADULT CHILDREN, and JUST ENOUGH LIGHT FOR THE STEP I'M ON. Recently she has written LEAD ME, HOLY SPIRIT – Longing to Hear the Voice of God; PRAYER WARRIOR – Praying Your Way to Victory;and CHOOSE LOVE – 3 Simple Choices that Will Alter the Course of Your Life. Stormie's newest book – OUT OF DARKNESS – is her personal journey out of the devastating darkness of the first twenty-eight years of her life when she found True Light and liberation. Then it goes on through her next thirty-five years as a believer, learning how to walk with the One True Light and rise above the traps and threats of the dark side. THE POWER OF A PRAYING WIFE broke a 21-year industry record by claiming the number one spot on the Christian Booksellers bestsellers list for 27 consecutive months. Her books have sold 34 million copies. Stormie and Michael have been married for over 42 years and have two married children and two granddaughters.