Open Hands, Willing Heart, Vivian Mabuni
Open Hands, Willing Heart, Vivian Mabuni
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Open Hands, Willing Heart
Discover the Joy of Saying Yes to God

Author: Vivian Mabuni, Jennie Allen

Narrator: Vivian Mabuni, Jessica Kaye

Unabridged: 5 hr 56 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/09/2019


Synopsis

Discover how yielding ourselves wholly to God, especially in the midst of challenging circumstances, lends new purpose to our lives.
 
“Vivian Mabuni is a kind and trustworthy guide through one of adulthood’s secrets: life doesn’t go like you thought it would.”—Jen Hatmaker, New York Times best-selling author of For the Love and Of Mess and Moxie
 
As women after God’s heart, we honestly desire to please God. We want to be used by Him and to experience the peace and fulfillment He wants for us. Yet it’s all too easy to fall into living mechanically, with a rule-based approach to the Christian life, or to focus on getting what we want when we want it. Even when we want to be willing, saying yes to whatever God asks often feels scary, and the distractions of this world get in the way.
 
Vivian Mabuni knows this all too well, but she’s discovered that open-handed living starts with an intentional posture of the heart. Through surrender to His will, we draw closer to God in a way that makes our day-to-day lives more purposeful, powerful, and pleasing to Him. 
 
With Vivian’s warm encouragement in Open Hands, Willing Heart, you’ll learn how to step out in courageous trust as you invite God to give and take—and move and work—in your life as He sees fit. Along the way you’ll discover true joy and serenity that will carry you through every circumstance.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jennifer on April 15, 2019

Vivian has some incredible insight into the Lord, how He works, and how we can have open hands to Him. She weaves in personal stories that give practical helps for open handed/open heart living. I also enjoyed her commentary on Esther, Hagar, and Elijah. I appreciated her honesty about frustrations......more

Goodreads review by Grant on April 16, 2019

I have had the honor of listening to Vivian Mabuni speak several times, as I have been involved with Cru over the past few years. Every time I have heard her speak, I have been both encouraged and challenged by her wisdom and gentleness. So of course, when I heard that she had written a new book, I......more

Goodreads review by Tricia on July 07, 2019

Wow. It has been a while since I have read a book so honest, so challenging but also refreshing at the same time. Vivian somehow pieced together all these "truth nuggets" together that felt like your best friend was calling you out but with all the love and gentleness she/he would naturally give you......more

Goodreads review by Nikki on January 22, 2022

Offers a great perspective on having a Kingdom mindset and growing your relationship with the Lord through His grace. Teachings on having a fully surrendered heart and mind to align with Gods will. Highly recommend.......more

Goodreads review by Holli on June 29, 2020

I found myself still thinking about some point Mabuni made days after I read them. Deep, soulful encouragement. Highly recommend!......more


Quotes

“It’s easy to fall into a rhythm of control, clutching tightly to the desire to blaze our own trails. Vivian Mabuni brilliantly calls us to break the rhythm, relinquish control, and live in a relationship with God above all else, allowing Him to lead, guide, and provide.”
—Rebekah Lyons, author of You Are Free

“Through story and the study of Scripture, Vivian Mabuni reminds us of the power in trusting God and the peace that comes with surrender. Open Hands, Willing Heart helps us confront the barriers we encounter on our journey to trusting God fully and reminds us that God can indeed be trusted with everything that concerns us. Vivian’s voice is at once bold and gentle, vulnerable and full of grace. Reading this book left my heart ringing with a powerful question: What beautiful things will happen when we open our hands?”
—Amena Brown, spoken word poet and author

Open Hands, Willing Heart calls us to let go of our fear in the midst of uncertain or difficult times and instead take hold of God’s glorious plan for our lives. Vivian’s relational, thoughtful, compassionate voice gently walks us further down the path of deepening trust in God, who always works His will for our good.”
—Jamie Ivey, host of the podcast The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey and author of the best-selling book If You Only Knew

“Vivian Mabuni is a kind and trustworthy guide through one of adulthood’s secrets: life doesn’t go like you thought it would. Open Hands, Willing Heart helps us lay down what we expected and pick up what God is actually doing, because even when we face uncertainty and fear, He is good, He is near, and He will lead us.”
—Jen Hatmaker, New York Times best-selling author of For the Love and Of Mess and Moxie

“In this tender yet compelling book, Vivian recognizes that our hearts are often beset by distractions and agendas, clinging to faith on our terms. Through Scripture and personal story, she invites us to discover the freedom of another way: hearts fully surrendered to a God who carries us through the highs and lows of life. Open Hands, Willing Heart brings a powerful message for a busy, overwhelmed world. Take it in slowly; take it in fully. Take it to heart.”
—Jo Saxton, speaker, author, founder of the Ezer Collective, and cohost of the podcast Lead Stories

“When my wife said yes to my marriage proposal, little did she know that the man she was marrying would disappoint her. I love her dearly, but on my worst days I can be cranky, selfish, fickle, and definitely not a knight in shining armor. But the yes Vivian points us toward in this book is different because it’s a yes to a God who will never disappoint us and will always allow us to flourish—even when He replaces our plan A with His plan B. I pray Vivian’s words will bring as much grace to you as they did to me.”
—Scott Sauls, pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church and author of Irresistible Faith

“Vivian Mabuni’s writing style perfectly captures her beautiful self—warm, encouraging, honest, and wise. From the first page of Open Hands, Willing Heart, you’ll feel challenged but never judged as she walks through the many reasons we hold back instead of trusting God completely. Combining her poignant personal stories with those of other women and with biblical characters, Vivian helps us understand why saying yes to God is not only the right thing to do but also the best thing to do.”
—Liz Curtis Higgs, best-selling author of Bad Girls of the Bible

“While it’s true that Jesus spoke occasionally to large crowds of people, He spent much of His time with individuals and small groups—praying, teaching, walking, talking, eating, and simply modeling the ways of the kingdom. I’ve seen Vivian Mabuni speak in front of thousands of people, but I’ve been most moved by her commitment to disciple individuals through mountaintops, valleys, and life in between. This is the essence and power of Open Hands, Willing Heart. Readers will be encouraged and challenged as Mabuni shepherds and disciples them not just to a solitary decision but to a life of surrender to God.”
—Rev. Eugene Cho, pastor, humanitarian, and author of Overrated

“Letting go of the desire to determine our own path in life can be challenging. But surrendering to God’s will is well worth the risk because it leads us to a more purposeful and fulfilling life. With honesty, wisdom, and contagious enthusiasm, Vivian Mabuni encourages us from the very beginning of this book to open our hearts to God, trusting in His plan and His love in the midst of all circumstances.”
—Tasha Morrison, speaker, author, and founder of Be the Bridge

“Vivian Mabuni has written a beautiful piece of work—a series of inspiring stories combined with deeply insightful questions for reflection. Read this book and feel yourself truly say yes—to God, to the open doors that scare you, to your truest self.”
—Jessica Honegger, founder and co-CEO of Noonday Collection