Become a Better You: 7 Keys to Improving Your Life Every Day [Hardcover]

 

 

Create your own review

One of the great pleasures of this book for me was to re-read many of my favorite sermons by Pastor Joel Osteen. No matter how many times I've listened to a sermon that's included here, the Holy Spirit helped me to draw new meaning from reading it in Become a Better You.

Another great benefit was to see the structure that Pastor Osteen used to organize these sermons relative to one another. Just by seeing that structure and thinking about it after finishing the book, I better understood the process of sanctification (the way that Christian believers go about becoming more like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit).

People who don't know Jesus as their Lord and Savior often think that Christianity is simply about accepting or rejecting Jesus. That's the first step, the step of salvation from our sins. But our relationship with Jesus builds from there through sanctification.

Those who aren't Christians often don't know what large impacts becoming saved and sanctified have. This book is eloquent testimony of how much Christianity does for you here on Earth, long before you die.

Through the many stories (many of them based on his own experiences and those of his family) in the sermons, Pastor Osteen does a marvelous job of showing that transforming experience and potential for even more improvements.

The 31 sermons are organized around seven steps which I have paraphrased as follows:

1. Seek continual improvement and larger challenges.
2. Use your faith to have a positive view of yourself.
3. Improve your relationships with others.
4. Eliminate bad habits and form better ones.
5. Accept your situation.
6. Listen more carefully to and act on God's directions.
7. Embrace life with Godly passion.

Each step concludes with a few action points that allow you to refocus and redirect your life. These are good habits.

The book concludes with a call to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Some would argue that this book is only for Christians. But if you are not a Christian and wonder what the Christian life is like, I think you'll find this book to be interesting and valuable as well.

I was struck that some people think this is a self-help book that should be filled with novel ideas. Pastor Joel Osteen is drawing on the timeless words of the Bible. I'm glad he didn't vary from what God has directed for us.

May God bless you!

This book discusses seven keys to help the reader become a better person. None of the keys are original. As I read the book, the first impression I had is that Osteen assumes the reader accepts the authority of scripture in his/her life. The second impression I had is that it was written by a male pastor for a male audience.Throughout the book Osteen repeats that it is up to us to improve ourselves and that God will give us the power to change.
I read books to discover what they say about chronic or terminal illness. Osteen writes that illness can be cured by a positive attitude and a belief in the power of God. He neglects the lessons to the book of Job-that Satan is active in our world and God allows suffering.Osteen has an optimistic view of life and that God wants to bless us and to prosper us, which does not provide hope for readers who are suffering from a major illness.

This is a very important book especially today when so many of us find ourselves out of work in a difficult economy. It is so easy to end up blaming ourselves for our misfortune and to fall into a negative thinking pattern. Prolonged unemployment can result in increasingly lowered self esteem and self confidence causing us to feel beaten down physically, emotionally and spirtually. Even though an individual may know deep inside that they are well qualified for a position: highly educated, very experienced, skilled and a good worker, NOT being selected for yet another job can take its toll. "If you are going through a difficult time" Olsteen tells us however "take heart. There are better days ahead!...The more you learn to trust God, the better you will be."

PART ONE is entitled KEEP PRESSING FORWARD. Of the six chapters in this part I found Chapters 1 and 2 to be most meaningful. In Chapter 1 Olsteen reassures us: "Often, out of our greatest rejection comes our greatest direction....Sometimes you have to get out of the environment in order to see that dream fulfilled....When you go through persecution and rejection, it's not always because somebody has it in for you. Sometimes, that's God's way of ....making it uncomfortable for you to stay where you are currently." Olsteen concludes that chapter by admitting "The closed door simply means God has something better in store....you will become a better YOU, better than you ever dreamed possible." Granted this may be hard for some of us to accept finding continued employment in an organization we had dedicated ourselves to for years an impossibility. However BELIEVING that "God has another plan" is infinitely reassuring! In Chapter 2 Olsteen continues "Quit mourning over something you can't change. God wants to give you a new beginning, but you have to let go of the old before you'll ever see the new."

PART TWO -- BE POSITIVE TOWARD YOURSELF -- and PART THREE-- DEVELOP BETTER RELATIONSHPS are my favorite parts because here Olsteen gives some powerful suggestions on how we can be kinder to ourselves during our times of need. PART TWO consists of four chapters and PART THREE of five. Chapter 7 tells us in its title "Stop Listening to Accusing Voices". "Too many people live under condemnation" Olsteen tells us "listening to the wrong voices...reminding us of our past mistakes and failures". "Quit being negative toward yourself...and start receiving God's mercy...know that God has a bright future in store for you. When you do that, you will diffuse the power of the accuser and you will experience a new sense of freedom". Chapter 7 "Making Your Words Work for You" is one of the most healing chapters in the book because it stresses the importance of positive self talk. "You have seeds of greatness inside of you, but it is up to you to believe and act on them" Olsteen declares. "Change the way you speak about yourself and you can change your life....As you speak affirmatively about yourself, you'll be amazed to discover that you are getting stronger emotionally and spiritually and that image on the inside is changing for the better." This is SO TRUE. I think it can even reflect on how one interviews for a job. For instance if we have a NEGATIVE opinion of ourselves it can leak through even if we are trying to disguise it in an interview. How then can we expect someone to believe in us and hire us if we don't even believe in ourselves? "It's not enough to merely think positively" Olsteen adds "You need to speak positively about yourself. You need to hear it over and over again. Good things are coming my way. God is fighting my battles for me. New doors of opportunity are opening. As you speak affirmatively, you will develop a new image on the inside, and things will begin to change in your favor." How reminiscent of Normal Vincent Peale's very powerful book The Power of Positive Thinking and how truly valuable in our lives! Olsteen concludes this chapter by stating "Learn to declare good things over your life. If you are negative and critical towards yourself, your own words can stop God's best plan from coming to pass in your life."

PART FIVE -- EMBRACE THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE -- contains five chapters. PART SIX --DEVELOP YOUR INNER STATE -- contains three and PART SEVEN -- STAY PASSIONATE ABOUT LIFE -- contains four. I especially like the part in Chapter 20 where Olsteen asserts "If events are not happening as quickly as you would like" (in my case, getting a job)"or if you are not seeing circumstances change in your favor,open your grip to the situation, relax and learn to trust God. Know that God is on your side. He is not trying to hold you back...Let him lead you and guide you.....I've learned that when my prayers aren't being answered, or when things aren't happening as fast as I would like, that either means that God is protecting me from danger up ahead, it's not the right time, or God has something better in store."

Believe me when I say that this IS a most powerful book and has been a VERY positive influence in my life. It reminds us and reassures us ALL what we already know deep down: God DOES have a plan and things WILL improve. ALL we need to do is say "God, not my will but Yours be done" remembering the verse from Romans 8:28: "All things work together for good to those who love God." Trust him and he will help you "Become a better you."

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 9 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

 

5.0 out of 5 stars A Path Of Faith
I listened to the audio version of the book "Become a Better You". I enjoyed the emphasis Joel places on faith,and the human potential under God. Read more

Published 22 months ago by Thurman L. Faison

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book Ever
This book nails it when it comes to listing real factors that affect your everyday life, and options on how to overcome stress and be optimistic. Read more

Published on Feb 24 2009 by Jacquie Perello

5.0 out of 5 stars Got Your Attention?
Jimmy Swaggard. Ted Haggard. Tammy & Jim Baker. All these people used God's name in their sermons. Not Mr. Osteen. Where will you put your money? Read more

Published on Dec 23 2007 by Martin A Hogan

5.0 out of 5 stars A blessing to all that read this
Its common knowledge that "you can't be everything to everybody" and I don't think Osteen is trying to be. Read more

Published on Dec 6 2007 by H. Clinton

5.0 out of 5 stars Advanced Lessons about Sancification for Christian Believers
One of the great pleasures of this book for me was to re-read many of my favorite sermons by Pastor Joel Osteen. Read more

Published on Oct 24 2007 by Donald Mitchell

1.0 out of 5 stars Not the best out there
Although it is upbeat, optimistic and encouraging; it is shallow and can set people up for longer term disappointment. Read more

Published on Oct 18 2007 by T. Underwood

Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

› See all 9 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Search Listmania!