Book Tour: You Were Born for This

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I have to say, I almost didn't participate in this blog tour because I saw the author and my mind went straight to the Prayer of Jabez madness than ran through my church several years ago. Now, I never read that book, but I watched as friends and acquaintances used it as justification for exorbitant spending and focusing on increasing their comfort "because they were claiming God's promise." After reading You Were Born for This, I sincerely doubt that was what Wilkinson intended for Jabez to inspire and I may have to go back and read it for myself.

In this book, Wilkinson gives very simple but profound tools for anyone to live a life that is purposefully in tune with the Holy Spirit and actively seeking to be a blessing (or miracle) to others they encounter as led by God. Basically, it provides you with on the job training to become God's miracle delivery person. But don't jump to the conclusion that you'll be running about healing people of disease or walking on water - that's not really what Wilkinson is focusing on. Instead, it's the simple idea of carrying around as little as $1 that you've specifically earmarked to give to someone at God's leading and that, as you go about your day, you look for the opportunity to hear God's direction to minister to someone in that way. Or to simply be open to seeing that God wants you to stop and listen to someone and be a conduit for the encouragement that God wants to send their way.

Wilkinson describes this life of linking heaven and earth and gives you keys to help you start practicing hearing God's direction. The Master Key essentially get you to a place where you commit to listening and doing God's work. He follows this with the People Key and the Spirit Key, ending with the Risk Key - all four together equip you to step out and look for a way to touch the lives of those around you. From there, he lays out what he feels are the signs that God sends to help you key into the need for the miracle God wants you to deliver. Finally, he details the Money Key, the Dream Key, and the Forgiveness Key - three particular types of miracles that, when we are properly attuned and willing, God can and will use us to deliver.

Throughout the whole book, the focus is always on listening for the leading of the Holy Spirit and turning the results and glory back to God. In many ways, it seems like this should be second nature to Christians already - and yet there is challenge on nearly every page. I'm glad I read it and I hope that I can incorporate the thoughts into my interactions with others.

Bruce Wilkinson has recorded a video introduction to the book that you can view here.