God Told Me: Who to Marry, Where to Work, Which Car to Buy...And I'm Pretty Sure I'm Not Crazy [Kindle Edition]

Jim Samra (Author)

Book Description

Does an infinite and all-powerful God really care about the everyday concerns of people? Jim Samra answers with an unequivocal and enthusiastic "Yes!" in this guide to hearing God's direction in everything. From the trivial and mundane to the life-changing, God cares about it all because it concerns his creatures, his creation, and his kingdom.

In this unique book, Samra unpacks biblical passages and shares fascinating and surprising true stories about God's guidance, encouraging readers to keep up a running conversation with their creator, to search for guidance in Scripture, and to pay attention to apparent coincidences. Readers who want to make godly decisions about the big things (where to live, where to go to school, where to work, who to marry) and the seemingly little things (which car to buy, which song to sing in church, who to talk to, what to say) will find a gifted and encouraging guide in Samra.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

How to listen for God's direction--in every aspect of life

Does an infinite and all-powerful God really care about the ordinary aspects of our lives? Pastor Jim Samra answers with an enthusiastic "Yes!" From the trivial to the life-changing, God cares about it all because it concerns his creatures, his creation, and his kingdom.

In this unique book, Samra unpacks biblical passages and shares fascinating true stories about God's specific guidance. He explains how to distinguish God's guiding voice from all others and provides practical advice for learning to listen.

If you have ever wanted to ask God for direction about where to live, who to marry, or how best to endure a difficult trial, God Told Me is the place to start.


"Samra sensitively and carefully guides you through the maze of what can be said about God's guidance. It will push you to rely more on God. And that is a very good thing."--Darrell Bock, research professor of New Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

"My friend Jim Samra has unraveled the often tangled mystery of recognizing God's voice and learning to follow it."--Dr. Joseph M. Stowell, president, Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, Michigan

"Samra boldly contends that God speaks to people today to provide concrete guidance, and he is careful to root his argument in Scripture rather than personal experience, though the latter provides plenty of colorful illustrations."--Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Blanchard Professor of Theology, Wheaton College Graduate School

"If you believe God speaks but are not sure how to be confident you are receiving heavenly direction, this book will bring clarity to your listening process."--Kevin G. Harney, pastor of Shoreline Community Church and author of Reckless Faith

Jim Samra is senior pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has a PhD from Oxford University, a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a BS from the University of Michigan. He is the author of The Gift of Church and Being Conformed to Christ in Community. Jim and his wife, Lisa, have four amazing children and therefore spend a lot of time listening for guidance from God.

About the Author

Jim Samra (MTh, Dallas Theological Seminary; DPhil, University of Oxford) is senior pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a nondenominational church with an average weekly attendance of 4,000 adults. He is the author of The Gift of Church and Being Conformed to Christ in Community.

Product Details

• File Size: 612 KB
• Print Length: 209 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0801014115
• Publisher: Baker Books (July 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0080K3BDA
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #394,482 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend June 27, 2012

By Brass Guppy

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book, because we live in a world full of false teachings and New Age confusion. I have studied the Word and have prayed continually for discernment in the way that I live and in having my eyes open to any false teachings.

This book is not like much of what our culture is trying to feed us today. Instead of being based on false Eastern religions, New Age ideology, or any of the wide myriad of false teachings that we are being bombarded with, it is fully based on the Truth of Scripture. There is no focus on "self" or culture, but instead Jim encourages the reader to grow more in love with the Holy Creator of all that is and that will ever be. He uses Bible Scriptures and stories of believers to share how much our Father truly loves us and wants us to follow Him. He emphasizes how God leads us with a gentle voice, how He cares about every part of our lives, and how we can learn to listen and to know Him more genuinely.

I strongly recommend anyone who wants to have a deeper, true relationship with God and who wants to understand how to listen to the voice of the one and only Good Sheppard to read this book. I've already cited it in my graduate school class and plan to purchase Jim's book, the Gift of Church, after reading this one.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars How Much Help Should You Ask of God? July 24, 2012

By Anne Wingate

Format:Paperback

God Told Me: Who to Marry, Where to Work, Which Car to Buy...And I'm Pretty Sure I'm Not Crazy

God Told Me, by Jim Samra, was published by Baker Publishing Group, which gave me an ebook galley to review. Its general theme is that we can safely turn all our major decisions over to God and let Him make them. Samra decided he would make no effort to find a bride; he would leave that up to the Lord. He begins the book with brief references to people for whom God made major decisions, and then moves on to scriptural examples. He emphasizes that this refers to major decisions, not such decisions as whether to turn right or left, or what to have for lunch. He goes on to tell this story:

"I decided to ask God to arrange a marriage for me. . . . {I requested} that he choose someone I didn't know and tell me whom he had chosen before I saw her, because I didn't want my desires getting in the way of genuinely hearing from God.

"Amazingly, he did just that." A professor asked for prayer about his daughter, whom Samra had never met and whose first name he did not know. "Yet at that moment God gave me the strongest, most indescribably subjective impression that this mystery person was his choice for my spouse."He met the girl six months later, and "over the next ten months God graciously confirmed his guidance in a number of remarkable and clear ways." He gave many more examples of God's guiding him and of God's guiding others. He then goes into the matter of how one is to determine whether the guiding is coming from God or from some other spirit. He discusses people who insist that despite their earnest pleading, God has not guided them, and he points out that most often, they didn't listen for an answer and therefore didn't recognize it when it came. "We act as if God created the universe, handed us the instruction manual, and now doesn't want to be bothered with us again."

He divides the book into two halves. The first answers "four big questions: What is guidance from God? . . . why should we seek guidance from God? . . . how does God provide guidance?. . . and how do we know when it is God who is speaking?" In the second half, he teaches us how to listen for guidance from God, what we need to do to be ready to receive that guidance, and what to do when the guidance is received.

Many readers will come away with the feeling that Samra is old-fashioned and superstitious; others will not know what to think; and perhaps a few will follow Samra's teaching and ask for God's guidance in their own lives, and wait for answers.

Whichever camp you fall into, you will find this book interesting.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very challenging...yet careful July 19, 2012

By Zac Lloyd

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having had the privilege to hear some of Dr. Samra's thoughts on hearing God at Gull Lake family camp in 2011, I was excited to read this as soon as it came out. He does an excellent job putting this topic on the first shelf for people like me. I was challenged by this book to rely less on my own 'wisdom' and to EXPECT to hear God in my daily life. This book has challenged my prayer life and my daily thought life to always be listening to God's leading.

I think he does an excellent job addressing counterpoints and balancing the thesis of the book to avoid a wholesale..."I feel like God told me to do this... so that trumps all" mindset... all the while presenting a thoroughly biblical perspective.

The FAQ appendix is very helpful as are the Small Group tailored questions at the end of each chapter.

I highly recommend this book.

More About the Author

Jim Samra is a servant of Jesus Christ currently ministering as the senior pastor of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, MI, a job which forces him to depend on God daily. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Dallas Theological Seminary, and the University of Oxford, and is also the author of the book Being Conformed to Christ in Community. Jim and his wife, Lisa, have four very young children and are happy but tired most of the time.