3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley & Zondervan for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my review. 

"The decisions I make today determine the stories I tell tomorrow." - Craig Groeschel 

This book is chock full of great reminders regarding trusting God with the direction of your life.  Most of it isn't necessarily "new" material, it's things some of us may have heard before but Groeschel offers a fresh approach and his writing style is relatable and funny.    

It took me several months to read through this book, not because of lack of interest but because I was processing the content and allowing it sink deep.  I think you can easily breeze through this book and miss some heavy hitting points--so my advice is to read it with an open heart and don't be surprised when God uses this book to speak to you.

Divine Direction by Craig Groeschel is perfect encouragement for those facing a hard season or those who have hard changes facing them. The book is based on the premise that, "Direction, not intention, determines destination." Every choice you actually carry out is what determines the direction your life heads in. And that's an accumulation of the numerous small choices more than the fewer big ones.

Groeschel asks us to consider a few things in determining our direction - all are based on God's plan for our lives. First, is there something you need to stop doing? "What are you doing today that’s not good for your story? Do you have some habit, a mindset, an addiction, an attitude, a thought process, something in your life that’s hijacking the story you want to tell?" You need to make the decision and take the steps - one at a time - to stop that thing and change your direction.

Is God calling you to go or to start something? Usually if God is calling us to something, it feels a little out of our league. Groeschel points out that "Maybe you’re thinking, I just don’t think I have that kind of faith. I for sure don’t have the faith to finish something like what he’s calling me to. Then I have great news for you: you don’t have to have the faith to finish; you only have to have enough faith to start. You need only enough faith for one step: that very first one." One step at a time is all it takes to move forward and God takes care of the rest. And God will even give the strength to make that one step at a time.

And possibly, is God calling you to stay where you are - stick it out? It could be a job you dislike, a difficult relationship, a project God called you too, etc. It would be so easy and a relief to just leave the circumstance, but in staying, "After some time has passed, maybe you’ll be looking back, reflecting on your story, and you’ll realize that even though you didn’t know it at the time, God was using that very thing that you hated to rewire you, to change you, to transform your life." Being called to stay can bring about change as much as being called to go.

Listening to God's call to Start, Stop, Stay, and/or Go is the key. Groeschel also discusses his own life examples to these points and more, including how he and others have drawn near to God to hear from Him. Packed full of great advice, points, and reasoning, Craig Groeschel's Divine Direction brings the perfect mix of encouragement to face the giant at hand in your life.

nce again Pastor Craig brings us honest, heart warming thoughts, stories and directions so that we can enhance our walk with Jesus. We make decisions everyday, but how do they impact our lives? I've never thought of it that way, but Pastor Craig brings you insight on how those daily decisions impact not only us, but the people around us. Sometimes we need a "nudge".. I love the quote he uses from Walt Disney "The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing". We are overwhelmed sometimes by making decisions, but Pastor Craig makes it easy...one step at a time. What can we do today?
This was such an amazing book and just the God "nudge" I needed. It's beautifully written, so honest and personal. This is a new author for me, only the second book I have read, but I couldn't get enough. I look forward to the next book, and the next....

This was a good, meaningful read. From what I read of it, it has substance and I recommend it to anyone who truly wants to know God's heart.

Original, published article (portuguese)

7 DECISÕES QUE MUDARÃO A SUA VIDA – CRAIG GROESCHEL
DIVINE DIRECTION, O NOVO LIVRO DE CRAIG GROESCHEL NOVIDADE NOS ESTADOS UNIDOS

Qual é a tua história? Que história de vida vais ter para contar aos netos? É neste desafiante tom, carregado da sua característica boa disposição, mas muito terra-a-terra, que Craig Groeschel encosta o leitor à parede no que toca às consequências futuras das decisões de… hoje.

O autor rebate bem neste ponto: uma vida indisciplinada nunca leva à produtividade ou progresso. “As decisões que tomas hoje determinam aquilo que vais ter para contar amanhã. […] Que disciplina precisas adotar para escreveres a história que Deus quer que escrevas?”
Começar ou Parar? Ir ou Ficar? Servir, Relacionar-se, Confiar? Estes são os sete tipos de tomadas de decisão com que diariamente somos confrontados e para os quais, Groeschel tenta dar uma ajuda, para que mais tarde, a ligeireza com que se “deixa andar”, não nos traga dissabores.
Por exemplo, perante um impulso, ou dilema, com que sejamos confrontados, antes de tomar uma decisão repentina, o autor propõe um método de travar a fundo. Há que parar, dormir sobre o assunto, meditar, buscar sabedoria junto daqueles em quem confiamos. Antecipar consequências das diversas opções, visualizar os vários cenários, confirmar que é a escolha certa para nos levar onde desejamos.
Sabedoria é o instrumento de navegação de Deus para nos ajudar a tomar decisões sobre a vida que queremos levar. O truque é parar por um momento e realmente usá-la antes de tomar a decisão errada. 

English translation:

7 DECISIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Divine Direction, Craig Groeschel's new book

What's your story? Which life story will you have to tell to your grand-children? It is in this challenging tone, full of his characteristic funny writing, but very down-to-earth, that Craig Groeschel push the reader against the wall with regard to the future consequences of decisions made... today.
The author rebukes well on this point: an undisciplined life will never leads to productivity or progress. “The decisions you make today determine what you will have to tell tomorrow”. What disciline do you need to adopt to write the story God wants you to write?
Start or Stop? Go or Stay? Serve, Connect, Trust? These are the seven types of decision-making we are confronted daily, and for which, Groeschel gives an hand, trying to prevent you from later displeasures, after letting life goes carelessly .
For instance, facing an impulse, or dilemma, with which we are confronted, before making a sudden decision, the author proposes a method of full break. You have to stop, sleep on the subject, meditate, seek wisdow from those we trust. To anticipate consequences of various options, visualizing different scenarios, confirm that it is the right choice to take us wherever we want.
Wisdom is God's navigational tool to help us making decisions about the life we want to live. The trick is to stop for a moment, and actually use it before making a wrong decision.

Divine Direction, by Craig Groeschel, published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids - USA

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Reading this book put me in a state of constant thinking. I love the way Craig wrote about the importance of taking little steps, being dedicated and exercising discipline with those steps and improving gradually.

As this book is based on the Christian faith, he also talks about how being conscious about what we are doing / our lifestyle and how to identify when God is calling us to do certain things differently.

Rating: 3.5/5

Favourite quote: "Successful people often joke that they spent years becoming an overnight success.

What many don’t realize is that it’s the things no one sees that result in the things everyone wants.

It’s the faithfulness to do mundane things well, to develop productive habits, and to remain faithful that eventually leads to success."

Divine Direction is a book that provides great truth applicable to your life today! One of the biggest questions Christians ask is, "what is God's plan for my life?" If you are looking for the answer to that question, this book does not answer it. The book is meant to help you take steps in your life towards God's purpose. Craig Groeschel focuses on the small decisions that ultimately lead to bigger moments in life. He makes it clear how to apply the teachings to your life starting today.

In the book Divine Direction, author and Pastor Craig Groeschel, writes about finding direction for our lives in God. Every day we make small choices that over the course of time make a big impact and guide our lives.
This is a very practical guide. While I don’t feel this is his best work, Groeschel gives us good solid practical steps we can take to bring our lives in line with God’s plan each day. I would recommend this book to anyone. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.