Book: In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day

I just finished reading Mark Batterson's book "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars". I really enjoyed the book and wanted to share some its highlights for me.

The book's idea is based on the biblical character Benaiah. Samuel 23.20-21 tells of how he was a valiant warrior who killed two of Moab's mightiest warriors, encountered a lion on a snowy day which he followed into a pit and killed, and with a club killed an Egyptian warrior who had a spear. In time Benaiah became King David's bodyguard, and eventually the commander of Israel's entire army.

The book talks about 7 skills needed to live as a "lion chaser" in life. These are:
Overcoming Adversity
Defying Odds
Unlearning Fears
Embracing Uncertainty
Calculating Risks
Seizing Opportunities
Looking Foolish

A main theme of the book was that in the long run you will regret the most the things you could have and should have done in life but never had the courage to do. Mark writes,

"Spiritual maturity is seeing and seizing God-ordained opportunities. Think of every opportunity as God's gift to you. What you do with those opportunities is your gift to God. I'm absolutely convinced that our greatest regrets in life will be missed opportunities."

He talks about how God sees everything from an omnidimensional perspective. Sometimes, our greatest challenges in life can prove to be God's way of refining us and making us into who he wants us to become. If Benaiah had ran from the lion, no one would have thought less of him, but he also probably wouldn't have become the commander of Israel's army. Maybe unfavorable circumstances are opportunities that God wants to use to form us into the people he wants us to become.

Another good thing he says is, "One of the most paralyzing mistakes we make is thinking that our problems somehow disqualify us from being used by God. Let me just say it like it is: If you don't have any problems, you don't have any potential. Here's why. You ability to help others heal is limited to where you have been wounded... the more problems you have, the more potential you have."

Here's a few more quotes for thought:

"No problem equals no miracle"

"If you're willing to risk everything, there's nothing God can't do in you and through you."

"Most God-ordained dreams die because we aren't willing to do something that seems illogical."

"The greatest risk is taking no risk."

"There is no such thing as risk free faith."

Of lion chasers: "Their fear of missing out is greater than their fear of messing up."

"Lion chasers don't let what they can't do keep them from doing what they can."

"More often than not, the only thing between you and your dream is a rational excuse."

Over all, great book in my opinion. I certainly recommend it to anyone who wants to live the life God created them to live.