Bruce Wilkinson is one of those authors whose work has impacted and influenced me beyond belief. There are three books that I’ll share a big thought (the book’s main premise), an important verse or quote along with how I’ve grown spiritually because of his work. All of these books are international bestsellers. Check out his site.
Book: The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life
Big thought
You might remember or even read this little book when it reached best-seller status about 10 years ago. The book revolves around a prayer from the Bible that Bruce had said for years and how it’s greatly influenced his life. It’s a one-sentence prayer tucked away in the Bible that he believes contains the secret of a life of extraordinary favor with God.
Important quote
Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil. So God granted him what he requested. – 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Spiritual Application
After reading this book I realized the importance of asking God daily to bring blessings to my life and enlarge my influence to others. With His hand guiding me, I know that I’m going to be protected from evil and placed where He wants to spread my influence. I’ve said this prayer since reading the book, some years more diligently than others, and wholeheartedly believe it’s helped with the abundance in my life.
Book: The Dream Giver: Following your God-Given Destiny
Big Thought
God has planted in each of our hearts a BIG dream for our life. It’s a dream that is awaiting us and it’s up to us to have the courage to pursue it. He uses a powerful parable to tell this story on how in the journey of finding your BIG dream you’ll meeting boarder bullies who don’t want you to leave yours and their comfort zone. He uses so many powerful examples of the journey of pursuing that dream in your life.
Important quote
He shares however that a dream that has not been surrendered to God has pitfalls that can bring; how “Your Dream will become your idol”, and how that can “make people ‘successful’ but not fulfilled.”
Spiritual Application
I related to this book so much as I’ve always been a Big Dreamer. While many of my dreams have come true, many haven’t either. I realized that I’ve still be holding on to the dreams and not fully surrendering them to God. For example, I realized that my Big Dream with Project GratOtude I was holding on it. Since this book I’ve now surrender this project and dedicated it to the One above to do with it as He wishes.
Book: You Were Born for This: Seven Keys to a Life of Predictable Miracles
Big Thought
Anyone can do a good deed, but some good works can only happen by an act of God. Around the world these acts are called miracles–not that even religious people expect to see one any time soon. But what would happen if millions of ordinary people walked out each morning expecting God to deliver a miracle through them to a person in need? You Were Born for This starts with the dramatic premise that everyone at all times is in need of a miracle, and that God is ready to meet those needs supernaturally through ordinary people who are willing to learn the “protocol of heaven.” In the straightforward, story-driven, highly motivating style for which he is known, Wilkinson describes how anyone can be a ‘Delivery Guy’ from heaven in such universally significant arenas of life as finances, practical help, relationships, purpose and spiritual growth (description taken from Amazon).
Important verse
“I was born to partner with Heaven on miracles missions. He loves to send servants who are passionate about delivering visible proofs of his goodness and glory.”
Spiritual application
Here are a few excerpts from something else that I wrote using one of his concepts in my life called a God Pocket and I see now that this is his new book out!
“As I was praying then I got another thought, a nudge to give away some of the money in my “God pocket.” Except I didn’t have a God Pocket yet or any money in it. The idea of a God pocket comes from Bruce Wilkinson’s book You Were Born for This. He gives us the steps and fabulous examples of how we can be God’s delivery agents of miracles. One way we might be delivering miracles is through financial gifts. I loved this idea and wanted to do this. But I hadn’t yet. I rarely carry cash as I pay credit cards for everything. This time I actually had a little cash – $20, but I didn’t have it officially saved for my nonexistent God pocket.
Could this $20 be my first official financial delivery for God? I’ve been praying for an opportunity to do so since I’ve gotten back from vacation in March.
I tore off a sheet of plain white paper and left this note. For some reason I was feeling a little sacred to do this as it was out of my comfort zone and my first official delivery agent assignment (at least one that I was conscious of God asking me to do).
From one mother to another mother,
Please use this money to do something special for your children during your vacation. The time we have to love and cherish our children is a blink.
Much love to you!
I folded the note around the $20 bill and walked toward the stranger. We smiled at each other and said, “hello.” She was getting her nails done as well and couldn’t take the note so I put it by her purse and told her this was for her and she could read it later. She said, “thanks for whatever it is.”
Overall Conclusion
His work is truly lifechanging and Bruce says it best, “I’ve stolen all of my material from God, I hope you enjoy it.”
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For more resources, see our Library topic Spirituality in the Workplace.
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Janae Bower is an inspirational speaker, award-winning author and training consultant. She founded Finding IT, a company that specializes in personal and professional development getting to the heart of what matters most. She started Project GratOtude, a movement to increase gratitude in people’s lives.