At first I was somewhat put off by this book, since I found it to be overly religious and always referring to God.

But I got used to the author’s style of writing or, rather, disregarded it, since I found the content of the book to be encouraging and what I believed to be correct.

I’ve heard most, perhaps all, of what he writes before, but it’s good to be reminded of lots of positive things to think and do.

I found the book repetitive, but that didn’t matter since repetition helps us to integrate the information.

The object of the book is to help the reader to become a better person, and in my view the author succeeds in giving us valuable pointers to achieve this goal.

Joel’s father was the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, and at least when writing the book Joel himself was pastor there. It was apparently America’s largest church and millions of people throughout the world saw his weekly television broadcasts, though I personally have never seen any of them.

My computer now tells me that Joel and his wife Victoria have left the church for some reason, but I can see nothing about this on Joel’s website.

He tells us that God has given us everything we need to have a “victorious life” - we just need to do something with what he has given us.

“Becoming a better you is all about growing, learning, and improving.”

The more we learn to trust God, the better we will be.

We need to press forward. We are valuable, we have a gift.

Dwelling on negative thoughts about ourselves will keep us from becoming all God has created us to be.

When one door closes, another will open.

We shouldn’t put up with being just “good enough”.

Joel continually substantiates his advice by referring to stories from the Bible. He also gives us examples of people, perhaps from his congregation, who have been helped by him; he also provides stories from his and Victoria’s life. He is not afraid to recount incidents where he was in the wrong.

He (God) wants us to have a little heaven on earth, right where we are.

Don’t talk about the way you are, talk about the way you want to be.

If negative patterns exist in our family line, we should recognize this and do something about them, and not just keep passing them down.

At the end of each section, Joel provides us with “action points”, summarizing what he has been advising.

We need to love ourselves, otherwise we’re not going to be able to love others.

Feel good about who you are. Whatever you send out always comes back to you.

He repeats what New-Agers have been telling us for years. Words are like seeds. They tend to produce what we’re saying.

Therefore, we should say things such as “I am blessed”, “I am prosperous”, “I am healthy”, and so on.

These words will eventually permeate our subconscious mind, and will thus change the way we see ourselves.

With our words, we can either bless our life or curse our life.

None of this is new, of course, though it may be for some.

As regards our inner dialogue, we should be telling ourselves things like “Something good is going to happen to me. I have a bright future. The best is yet to come.”

Replace the negative recordings with new, positive, uplifting messages.

Our children need our love, encouragement, and approval. We should never put our children down.

We have something to offer that nobody else can give.

Compliment people freely. Every day try to find somebody you can compliment.

Find the good in every suggestion. Treat people with respect.

One little bit of kindness can brighten somebody’s day.

“I am a peacemaker, not a troublemaker.”

“I will overlook minor matters and I will forgive quickly.”

We should seek to make every person we meet feel important.

Identify any bad habits and make a decision to do something about them.

Joel explains how he’s changed his behaviour in relation to his wife. He used to argue about things to show how he thought they should be done. Now he doesn’t fight.

If you worry, you must replace the negative thoughts with positive faith-filled thoughts.

Even the Bible tells us

“Dwell on things that are pure, things that are wholesome, things that are of a good report.”

We should always keep new goals in front of us.

Our habits today will determine our future.

We’ve been focusing on what’s wrong instead of what’s right, and these negative patterns will keep us from enjoying our lives.

“Happiness does not depend on your cirumstances. It’s a choice that you make.”

“Be grateful for what you have, rather than complaining about what you don’t have.”

You can’t control people or change them. “Only God can do that.”

Train your mind to see the good.

“Don’t magnify your problems, magnify your goal.”

Joel quotes the apostle Paul as saying “I have learned how to be content no matter what state I’m in.”

When something doesn’t turn out right remind yourself “I know God has something better in store for me.”

He tells us about a young woman who had experienced a hurricane in New Orleans. Everybody else had been complaining about what they had lost.

She said “I thank God that I’m still alive and I have my health. I thank God that my children are okay.”

A reporter asks whether she had any power or air-conditioning.

She replies that she has no power and doesn’t even have her home. It was swept away in the flood. She said “I have my hope, I have my joy. I have my peace. I know God is on my side.”

Your first priority is to take care of yourself. You’re not responsible for other people’s happiness. And some people don’t want to be helped. They don’t want to change.

Be kind to everyone around you but refuse to be manipulated.

“God, not my will, but your will be done.”

Joel’s grandmother was told by her doctor that she was in the beginning stages of Parkinson’s disease. But she told him that she refused to have that. She went home and never did come down with Parkinson’s disease.

Prepare to have a blessed, prosperous, healthy, joy-filled, abundant, long life.

Don’t just believe, expect.

“When you do the right thing with the right motives, there’s no limit to what God will do in your life.”

We attract what we continually think about.

In Proverbs, the Bible says ”Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

So don’t give up on your dreams. God has something important for you to do.

Live with enthusiasm. Get up each morning and think of all the things you can be grateful for. If you need to, make a list.

Most of this may seem quite trite because we already know these things. But though there is not much new in the book, still I found it inspiring and encouraging. We need to be reminded of everything he tells us. I recommend that you read it, if you wish to become a better you and improve your life. ( )

Joel is easy to love; he has a sweet temper. Of course, I’ve read that he doesn’t have formal seminary training, but to be honest, I’m glad of it—schooling could easily have ruined him, or at least simply rejected him, the way the situation is these days, and indeed the way it’s been for much of Christian history. It doesn’t have to be this way, but a sweet temper doesn’t count for much in church politics, all too often. Now, I know Joel never makes the lists of the cool new people, and my friends like Richard and Brian might be put off by my recommending him—since Richard and Brian know so much philosophy and theology and politics, not to mention what people with an unhelpful attitude in politics should do to change their ways! And understand me, I’m not saying everyone should only read Joel, and that the tax policy we support makes no difference to our neighbor’s life. In a way, I’m not even saying it’s trivial or unimportant. But these hierarchies of so-called intelligence we use to police the dispensation of grace to the masses often create more problems than they solve. Sometimes all you need is an uncomplicated Christian psychology, even in the tradition of no-frills evangelicalism—provided that’s not synonymous with having a bad temper! The other things you need to know will be added to you, and /not/ because they’re trivial and unimportant. But if you don’t know you—what do you know? You know how other people should treat you, I guess. And how’s that working out for you?

…. “The world does not need to hear another sermon nearly as much as it needs to see one.”

…. A lot of people are hungry to be taught by somebody who likes them, you know. Smarties are like, Oh, I heard something bad about about Joe; let’s put it in the paper—you know. But if you smile—I mean, people will still talk; talking is a disease. But a lot of people will appreciate you, and you can do a lot of good and live in a Better Homes & Gardens showpiece, you know. (That’s a metaphor, but it could be.)

And you know all the wise men of the Bible are wise wise men, including Abraham and Solomon, who were rich and practical; but Joel likes his wife, so he’s not a real man, right.

He’s a balloon, mommy! 🎈

…. And, also, you know: it’s not all candy. He teaches real life skills, and he’s a real doctor of the soul, unlike many secular “psychologists” (psyche-ologist).

…. Smile by faith.

Let’s see; where’s my “Reminders” app…. 😹

What was it? Sit quietly by faith? Don’t make any noise by faith? Calmly and quietly rest by faith? I mean, it was something a little different though…. 🧐🥳

Thirty-one chapters of ideas for living a more positive life following the teachings of God and Jesus Christ. Rev. Joel Osteen writes in the same easy to understand style in which he preaches. ( )

http://purplemoonmyst.blogspot.com/2011/04/review-be-better-you.html ( )

wonderful! ( )