When I’m compelled to grab a highlighter and start ripping up thin pieces of cardstock to slip between the pages of a book for future reference, I know it’s going to leave an impact. It’s refreshing to hear a seasoned voice with grounded wisdom for work and life, and though I wasn’t specifically looking for it at the time, that’s what I found in the new release of Tested and Approved by author Tom Lane.
The title immediately resonated with me when I stumbled across it through a blogger’s network, but before I dug in, The 21 Lessons for Life and Ministry lay nestled beneath a glossy cover in the to-read stack on my nightstand, and I hoped it would be a gentle nudge toward fresh goals for the year ahead.
In our world of personal independence and the popular – but often misunderstood – pursuit of self-discovery, it’s not always easy to find a good resource with practical advice to deepen your faith and strengthen your calling, especially one that is rooted in solid truth. Yet when I finally settled beside my reading lamp after a full day at the office, I found myself not only appreciating the principles inside, but also the timing of the release.
Weeks before reading Tested and Approved, I’d been thinking about a philosophy that has become prevalent in society under the guise of living in sync with your higher self and finding direction when life is chaotic or on autopilot.
There is a widespread belief that intuition is never wrong. As humans, we sometimes get it wrong, but if we can learn to truly tap into the depth of the voice inside us, we will find the direction we need.
The reason this has unnerved me in the past has less to do with the words themselves, and more to do with the sentiment behind them. The “voice inside” is often portrayed as an all-inclusive, choose your own adventure kind of message that could be anything from the universe to human intuition to the Holy Spirit. You have the power to decide and follow your heart.
In contrast, beneath the hardback spine of Tested and Approved, Tom Lane shared sound advice and experiential wisdom that outlined the true foundation for success, reminding readers it is to know and do the will of God.
During a season when so many voices around the world lead people to believe they are the author of their own success, I was grateful for a new resource that continues to point readers to the Word of God for life lessons and direction that really matters.
It’s encouraging to be reminded that values rooted in the Bible do not change, even when peer pressure or new age philosophies try to convince us otherwise. As Tom Lane says, living in the center of God’s will sometimes requires patient waiting. There are building blocks for success and principles that will strengthen our relationship with God and allow us to walk in step with our calling.
We are called to learn and to work. We are called to seek and discover. But ultimately, we are called to trust and follow the highest power of all.
For me, the biggest takeaway from this book came in the form of deep perspective that motivated me to examine some of the areas of my own life a little closer. I was reminded of the many ways healthy spiritual disciplines impact our natural, everyday work, as well as our walk with the Lord.
Life, work, and ministry can be a long road filled with a myriad of rewards and challenges, yet at every turn, true direction comes when we understand God’s place in everything. If you’re like me, you might be tempted to measure success by the wrong standards from time to time. But together, we can hold fast to the truth that excellence requires patient continuance, and the steady pace of a Godly rhythm.
God is more concerned about our connection with Him than a self-propelled direction that offers the image of success, but fails to produce His nature within our hearts.
Since learning about Tested and Approved, I wanted to share it here in hope that the message will resonate with you as well. If you’d like to grab your own copy, you can find it here, or at the link below. And with the passing of time, may we be a people who dig deeper, climb higher, and view the world through God’s eyes as we bring forth fruit for His glory.
This book sounds so insightful, Misty! What an important topic, especially at the start of a new year!
I really appreciated the perspective and found it to be a good read. The new year is a perfect time to regroup and refocus!