Every Day Deserves a Chance
by Max Lucado
Published by Thomas Nelson
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Brenda A. Snodgrass
Subtitled: Wake Up to the Gift of 24 Little Hours
(teen version also available July 2007)
Bad days are avoidable, right? Are bad days beyond redemption? Shouldn’t there be hope for every day to be a good day? Max Lucado assures readers that each day—regardless of circumstances—has a shot at being a good day because every day is a gift from God.
“He closes the open sores of our heart and straightens the gnarled limbs of our inner being. He swaps sin rags for righteous robes. He still heals. And He still looks for gratitude.” p. 23
Lucado looks beyond the usual good days: sunshine-drenched vacation days, super sale Saturdays and unscheduled holidays. He explains that every day—even divorce days, final exam days, surgery days, tax days and days when the cemetery dirt is still fresh—every single day can be a good day. It’s possible, Lucado explains because God is at work in every situation. And when we begin to see our days from God’s perspective, our focus is sharpened; the good in every day becomes evident.
Lucado shares stories from daily living and from the Bible to illustrate how every day, even bitter days and fearful days can be transformed into truly good days. This book starts with the familiar Old Testament passage: “This is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it,” and moves through stories from Jesus’ life as the ultimate example of rejoicing in the day given.
This is more than a silver-lining attitude, more than seeing the cup as half full, there is more to life than what meets the eye. The book offers a memorable formula for upgrading each day to blue-ribbon status: saturate your day in Jesus’ grace;entrust your day to His oversight; accept His direction. —Grace, Oversight, Direction (G O D) pg. 7
One hint that this book has innovative marketing as it is in a container disguised to look like a cereal box. At the end of every chapter is a page called Daylifter that serve as a mini-devotional. Twenty-four blank pages at the back can be used as a place for your study notes.
Armchair Interviews says: Inspirational and uplifting, Every Day Deserves a Chance is a feel good book that would make a great gift for an ailing friend.