Your Next Leap of Faith
How to Hear God's Voice and Boldly Follow
Shane Winnings, Chosen Books, 2023, 192 pages
Book Review published on: May 20, 2025
Boldness in the face of opposition regardless of the consequences is a key aspect for anyone's faith. Faith can be defined as having a reasonable trust in someone or something that one has a good reason to believe is true. Your Next Leap of Faith: How to Hear God's Voice and Boldly Follow by Shane Winnings demonstrates how to be bold and courageous during a time of cultural opposition while living out one's own Christian faith. Christ commanded his disciples to go out and present the Gospel and make disciples of Christ with every encounter. The author shares his testimony in exquisite detail to show what it means to be a true disciple living out one's faith in day-to-day circumstances. He encapsulates the work of Christ and the power of the Gospel as defined by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. He emphasizes that the Gospel of Christ is true and a source of encouragement and inspiration for all who claim Jesus of Nazareth as their Lord and Savior.
In a world dominated by fear and discouragement, author Shane Winnings encourages his readers and podcast listeners to live fearlessly in the confidence that comes through true faith based on the words of Jesus and the writings of his disciples. These writings are captured in the New Testament, which is described as the Old Testament revealed, while the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. These two testaments that make up the Holy Bible are the sources of the author's convictions. They are a collection of documents written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of others who reported supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophesies. Furthermore, they claim their writings are divine rather than human in origin.
The author encourages his readers to cast off the world's crushing expectations and live totally for Christ and what he commands. Using vivid testimonies and real-world application, Winnings challenges his readers to say yes to Jesus, tune into his voice through Bible reading, press through fear and anxiety by fervent prayer, and boldly follow where God leads, while taking faith-filled risks. Winnings's background includes being a military veteran as well as a former law enforcement officer. He is also an evangelist who is filled with the Holy Spirit and currently serves as the president of Overcomers Inc. He hosts a podcast called Pursuing Jesus and reaches millions through his weekly YouTube channel.
The book is broken down into ten chapters that highlight the author's life while encouraging and challenging readers. The first chapter focuses on the willingness to face the truth, that claiming to be a Christian does not necessarily mean that one is living for God, nor does it mean one has repented and put trust in Christ to save them from their sins and his coming judgment. The remaining chapters focus on what it means to surrender to the Lordship of Christ and live for him instead of self and what the world demands. He begins by asking readers to examine themselves and to ask, "Where are you at with the Lord?" Winnings shares his journey of ceasing to be God's employee by returning to God's house as a son. He has counted the cost and found that Jesus was worthy of his life.
Each chapter, beginning with chapter 2, concludes with two sections that apply what one has previously learned within the chapter. These two sections are titled, "Your Next Leap of Faith" and "Pause and Pray." The first section encourages readers to take a step of faith regarding the theme presented. Chapter 2, for instance, challenges readers to spend at least five minutes per day worshiping God as the Lord. The second section gives an example of how to pause and reflect and then pray about the theme presented. This book is well written, effectively conveys the Gospel of Christ, and describes what followers should be doing based on biblical principles. This book is highly recommended for Christians seeking a closer walk with Christ as well as those who have not been presented the Gospel and offered the chance to get right with God.
Book Review written by: Stephen S. Harvey, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas