'Good Things' by Kevin Gerald

 

Take a fresh look around you with eyes that cut through the daily distortions and see the undeniable and extravagant goodness of God. 
There are certain messages today, both outside and inside the church, that have tainted the true message of God’s favor. The reality is God isn’t obligated to provide good things for us—but He wants to! This is your opportunity to adopt a favor-minded mentality and realize that God’s favor, like His grace, is unearned, limitless, and never-ending. And, it’s for us!

In Good Things, Kevin Gerald invites you to become a good finder.  

MY THOUGHTS:

 It's good to see a book about divine favour which focuses more on acknowledging and expressing thanks for what we've already got, rather than giving us tips to stir up more and more. I've read several of the latter sort over the years, and often what they stir up is a feeling of discontent and falling short.

Kevin Gerald begins with the premise that our attitude should be like wearing polarised sunglasses. What we choose to look at comes out in sharpest focus, whether we choose a positive or negative stance. Choosing to focus on the good isn't denying life's ups and downs, but helps us to notice little blessings we might otherwise overlook.

The book points out that so many of us unconsciously live from the premise that we don't have approval and need to earn it. This mindset is backed up by Old Testament stories about God choosing to turn away from his people for whatever reason. Reading them may fuel a common belief that God's favour is performance based, but Gerald discusses how the new era of New Testament grace is completely different. The 'on again, off again' relationship between God and his people is a thing of the past, but it's so easy not to grasp that. That's why we buy into the stress and burn-out of making approval earning our way of living.

Using stories, examples and personal anecdotes, this book is a great reminder that we should live from the premise that we already have approval, then look for signs of that, because we're bound to see them.

Thanks to Blogging for Books and WaterBrook Multnomah for giving a review copy through Net Galley.

4 stars