You know those books that make you feel like taking a first step or any sep is going to be super easy? Or that whatever the “self-help” a breeze. Thankfully, in Divine Direction, Craig Groeschel just gives it to you straight. There’s no sugar-coating or anything, just honest, good advice. And the premise of the whole book is honestly encouraging-- just make one choice, one decision at a time to start creating change in your life. Each chapter/section (stop, start, etcetera) begins with a story that highlights and emphasizes the focal point of the chapter, and honestly, those stories are my favorite part of the book. Throughout Divine Direction, Craig Groeschel does share personal stories, but the beginnings of the chapters give you glimpses into how other people’s stories have been impacted by just making that one decision to start saving money or stop trying to walk through life alone. And on top of being inspiring, the stories also are just real. I also really appreciate that most of the chapters end with final words that challenge you, like “[s]tart a discipline today that will change your story forever”. (Or something like that.) It’s just an added piece that encourages you to take a step while you read the book. You don’t have to start something and stop something and go somewhere, but which do you need to do? And Groeschel, throughout the whole book, definitely does well to encourage readers to be okay taking small steps and one step at a time, which I appreciate. So, what’s your story going to be? During an internship of mine, we had a speaker ask us how we would want our eulogy or obituary to sound/read. What would we want to be said about us after we’re gone? Then, after letting us think about that, he asked: if we were living lives that would lead to us being known as a great sister, a person after God’s heart, and all those great things or if we’d be remembered in a different light? In Divine Direction, Craig Groeschel reminds us that we have a part in authoring our stories, in making choices that will lead us to live a life that not only we but also God wants. And you just have to make one decision, one commitment and you’ll start writing a story you won’t be ashamed to tell. I definitely recommend this to any and everyone for goal setting or just making a life-change. Yes, it would be a great book to read at the beginning of the year, but like my dad says, “You can choose to change whenever you want. It doesn’t have to be New Years’.”