Mike Donehey - Finding Gods Life for My Will: His Presence Is the Plan

Mike has been a friend of mine for years. He is equal parts fun, wise, and kind. He says what he believes, and he believes what he says. This book is full to the brim with words from a voice I trust, because Mike lives out the gospel message without pretense and with tremendous vulnerability.

B OB G OFF , author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody, Always

Who is waiting for you when the road rises up and smacks you in the face, when life sneaks up and hits you from behind and knocks you to your knees? Mike Donehey realized that it was from these positions he was in the best place to reach out for Gods hand and rise up. From accidents and intentions, decadence to ascension, his life and Gods will found a place called home.

K EN M ANSFIELD , author, producer, and former US manager of the Beatles Apple Records

Some books are fun to read while others just hit home, but my friend Mike Donehey has a way of doing both here. He is brilliant with words; his storytelling makes you laugh out loud; and yetwith all humilityin every chapter he blindsides you with truth that spins you right into freedom. When you have all of this written by someone with the highest values and character, you end up with a resource God uses in your life. This is a must-read.

C HUCK B OMAR , pastor of Colossae Church and author of Better Off Without Jesus and Serving Local Schools

At times in our friendship, God has used Mike to tell me exactly what I need to hear at just the right moment. I believe many will feel that Mike has done the same for them after reading Finding Gods Life for My Will. Reading Mikes words is like getting a new eyeglass prescription. Youll see Jesus and life with new clarity, and the result will be joy, freedom, and peace. This is a great read for anyone looking to take a next step with Jesus while laughing along the way.

T IMOTHY A TEEK , executive director of Breakaway Ministries

Challenging, captivating, and convicting. In Finding Gods Life for My Will, Mike not only offers a refreshing perspective, but he also gives us the wisdom we need to really live the life we were always made for!

J ORDAN L EE D OOLEY , author of Own Your Everyday and host of the SHE podcast

It was a little intense, especially the car-crash part. Its awesome. Its amazing. Its wonderful. Its just a book you can read when youre feeling down. It inspires you to help your feelings courage up so youre feeling happy and have a great new start for the day.

E ISLEY D ONEHEY , age nine

Its very, like, calming, you know? Its very peaceful, you knowlikeits very good, and it has lots of pages, and I bet you would want to read it.

N ORA D ONEHEY , age eight

The prophet Isaiah says, Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left (30:21).

Thats nice, but could it really be so simple? To hear the voice of God and to follow where it leads? Isnt that what were all after? Who wouldnt turn if they heard Gods voice over their shoulder? Imagine the Almighty echoing down the halls of your mind like a high school loudspeaker. If we heard God talking, of course wed respond. The problem is we seldom know whose voice it is were hearing. It doesnt seem like theres ever just one, does it? Our hearts speak. Our minds speak. Regret screams. Old shame shouts. Our bodies groan. The Spirit whispers. The Devil plays our strings. In the midst of all the noise, how can we possibly know if its the voice of the Divine were following or just our own desires?

The New Living Translation renders this verse in Isaiah as You will hear a voice right behind you. This helps immensely. I love the image. What if rather than trying to send calls on a long-range radio, God is hailing us on a walkie-talkie? What if He is perfectly content with the static when we wander too far from His side? What if we were never meant to know the whole plan? Would we be able to take the one step in front of us while trusting Hell speak to the present silence for the next? What if God doesnt want to give us answers because He wants to give us His presence?

I want to be done with overcomplicating things. I want to live this life with more than a ten-year plan. Ive tried those and they never work. At least not the way I drew them up. It seems like most of the plans Ive made are really just attempts to avoid having to listen and wait for God to come through. I want to be done with that.

I heard a story once of a man who traveled to India to have Mother Teresa pray that he would discover Gods plan for his life. She said no. He insisted. She responded flatly, No, I will not do that.I will pray that you trust God.

I love Mother Teresas response, and I guess I hate it at the same time. As much as I want to say I trust God, Id rather feel sure and competent about my future. But thats just it. No one knows the future. And if faith and trust are Gods true goals for our lives, then it would make sense Hed have to keep us in the dark on some things in order to cultivate other things inside us.

You have to have some fear before you can take courage. Uncertainty precedes faith, and doubt must take hold before we can exude trust. Trust is what grows in our hearts when we give our doubts over to the love of God. I guess you could call trust the ability to hear God singing Cyndi Laupers Time After Time over your life: