Every Day Deserves a Chance

March 12, 2007
Beloved Christian author Lucado (Traveling Light
), whose books have sold over 55 million copies, follows the psalmist by encouraging readers to "rejoice and be glad" every day. Lucado does mean every
day—even the day you get fired, or the day you learn your husband is having an affair. Since God is in charge, even lousy days are opportunities to grow, serve and find joy. Lucado provides a formula for this tall task: "Grace. Oversight. Direction," easily remembered by the unsubtle acronym G-O-D. The first step to rejoicing each morning is to drench your day in Jesus' grace, remembering that Jesus has forgiven you for whatever mistakes you made yesterday. Next, seek God's oversight and provision in all that you do. Finally, if you "want to blow the cloud cover off your gray day," embrace the direction God offers you. To illustrate these three principles, Lucado draws on biblical stories and contemporary unsung heroes of the faith: a Christian lawyer who oversees an orphanage in Beijing, for instance. "Daylifters"—page-long reflections on Scripture—conclude each chapter, and a study guide (not seen by PW
) fills out this inspiring, if anodyne, book.