Your Best Life Now Study Guide: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential by Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen,
Houston pastor and inspirational TV host offers an overblown self-help book that many Christian readers will be unhappy with as it emphasizes a name-it-and-claim-it philosophy that suggests that God’s only purpose is to satisfy the needs of self-centered individuals. On a positive note, however, Osteen does offer a section on giving to others but it is not included until the last part of the book thus appearing as just an add on thought to the previous couple of hundred pages.

Your Best Life Now Study Guide: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential is broken down as its name suggests into seven sections where Osteen details how reader’s can improve the quality of their lives. These seven steps include setting goals that will ultimately enlarge their vision; a plan to develop their self-esteem; advice on how to use the power of positive thinking; how to let go of past hurts; how to find strength through adversity; how to give back to others and why it is important to choose to be happy. Add to that its offering of 100 days of motivational thoughts and inspirational messages and Osteen’s book will help readers to discover their inner strengths and abilities while showing them how to experience victory, joy, and satisfaction every day! However, theologically, the book borders on a belief in materialism and portrays God as a superfluous entity whose only purpose is to grant earthly wishes. In other words, people not seeking a spiritual revelation; but who are in need of encouragement to overcome misfortune will find Osteen a good read. It is a feel-good book, reducing the image of Christianity to be about us and not about God.

Again, this book may not be for Evangelicals and Charismatic’s who may take offense at Osteen’s assertions about controlling their own destiny versus allowing God to control it but it is a useful guide for individuals or groups seeking a manual that contains a study guide, relevant scripture, and insightful narrative to inspire readers. The one true aspect of the book that I found meaningful, however, was its overall theme of placing your focus on others rather than yourself. From a secular viewpoint, I would definitely recommend this book for those who need to develop a more positive attitude about their lives. [tags]book review, Your Best Life Now Study Guide, Joel Osteen, charismatic, evangelical, study guide, victory, positive thinking[/tags]