Your Best Life Now

By Joel Osteen.

Published 2004 by Warner Faith, New York.

Reviewed by Suzanne Collins

Joel Osteen is the senior Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. Lakewood Church has approximately 30,000 adult attendees every week. Millions more watch Joel’s messages as they are broadcast on national and international television networks. Having had occasion of listen to Joel Osteen on Television, it’s obvious that this book is an excellent presentation of his ‘life message’. The one who’s become known as ‘the smiling preacher’, has written a positive, easy to read book.

Your Best Life Now covers a wide range of areas for personal growth and I found it biblical, practical and loved the personal examples the author includes throughout. It has become a source of encouragement to stay in an ‘attitude’ of faith, having our spirits stretched to become every thing God intended us to be ... daily.

 Your Best Life Now is arranged with 7 major sections:

1. 1.Enlarging your Vision – what you will receive is directly connected to how you believe.
   

2. 2.Develop a healthy Self Image – what you believe has a much greater impact on your life that what anybody else believes.
   

3. 3.Discover the power of your Thoughts and Words – it’s time to think about what you are thinking about.
   

4. 4.Let go of the Past – trust God to bring about the justice in your life.
   

5. 5.Find strength through Adversity – God often works the most when we see it and feel it the least.
   

6. 6.Live to Give – learning to be a giver not a taker.
   

7. 7.Choose to be Happy – happiness is a decision you make not an emotion you feel.
   

 Joel Osteen contends that God is always ready to do new things in our lives. Isaiah 43:19. Do you not perceive it? He asks. That is sometimes the problem, we lack perception of what God wants to do for us. We read such wonderful verses as “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” that in the Message paraphrase reads, “God’s kindness and goodness chases me down everywhere I go.” But that is not just a wonderful verse ... “that’s Life!” The reality is that He is so much more than any place we might find ourselves in, whether we are experiencing great things or not. The highs and lows of life have nothing to do with the Greatness of our God. This is the tenor of Your Best Life Now, full of practical, positive encouragement.

 I highly recommend this book as a real help that leads down the path to victory making a difference in all areas of life.  I loved it!